US4864596A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enhancement method and system for X-ray imaging
Assignee: INNOVATIVE IMAGING SCIENCES Inc A CORP OF UTAH
•
Filing: 1988-05-23
•
Granted: 1989-09-05
•
Expires: 2008-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and system are disclosed for producing a photographic image of an X-ray pattern, including the following steps: converting the X-ray pattern to a first pattern of light; exposing a photographic film to said first pattern of light; detecting the light at elemental regions of the first pattern; generating a second pattern of light in a pattern which depends on the detected light; and exposing the photographic film to the second pattern of light. The disclosed invention provides improvement on the standard radiographic method in the following ways: (1) The recorded film contrast in low X-ray exposure regions that ordinarily would have been recorded in under-exposed regions of the film's characteristic curve will be increased significantly. (2) The overall range of light transmission that must be viewed by the radiologist will be decreased without sacrificing diagnostic information.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Kruger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:22
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/021; G03B42/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for producing a photographic image of an X-ray pattern, comprising the steps of: converting the X-ray pattern to a first pattern of light; exposing a photographic film to said first pattern of light; detecting the light at elemental regions of the first pattern; generating a second pattern of light in a pattern which depends on the detected light; and exposing said photographic film to said second pattern of light.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for producing a photographic image of an X-ray pattern, comprising the steps of: converting the X-ray pattern to a first pattern of light; exposing a photographic film to said first pattern of light; detecting the light at elemental regions of the first pattern; generating a second pattern of light in a pattern which depends on the detected light; and exposing said photographic film to said second pattern of light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined by claim 1, further comprising the step of developing said photographic film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
The method as defined by claim 1, wherein said step of detecting light at elemental regions of said first pattern of light comprises detecting the light intensity at said elemental regions; and wherein said step of generating a second pattern of light comprises generating a pattern of light having the following characteristics: (i) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity above a predetermined threshold, the light intensity of the respective elemental regions of the second pattern being substantially zero; and (ii) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity below the predetermined threshold, the respective elemental regions of the second pattern having intensities inversely related to the intensities of the corresponding elemental regions of the first pattern of light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
The method as defined by claim 2, wherein said step of detecting light at elemental regions of said first pattern of light comprises detecting the light intensity at said elemental regions; and wherein said step of generating a second pattern of light comprises generating a pattern of light having the following characteristics: (i) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity above a predetermined threshold, the light intensity of the respective elemental regions of the second pattern being substantially zero; and (ii) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity below the predetermined threshold, the respective elemental regions of the second pattern having intensities inversely related to the intensities of the corresponding elemental regions of the first pattern of light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
The method as defined by claim 1, wherein said step of detecting light at elemental regions of said first pattern of light comprises detecting the light intensity at said elemental regions; and wherein said step of generating a second pattern of light comprises generating a pattern of light having the following characteristics: (i) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity above a predetermined threshold, the light of respective elemental regions of the second pattern being present for substantially zero time; and (ii) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity below the predetermined threshold, the respective elemental regions of the second pattern having light which is present for times which are inversely related to the intensities of the corresponding elemental regions of the first pattern of light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
146 words
The method as defined by claim 2, wherein said step of detecting light at elemental regions of said first pattern of light comprises detecting the light intensity at said elemental regions; and wherein said step of generating a second pattern of light comprises generating a pattern of light having the following characteristics: (i) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity above a predetermined threshold, the light of respective elemental regions of the second pattern being present for substantially zero time; and (ii) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity below the predetermined threshold, the respective elemental regions of the second pattern having light which is present for times which are inversely related to the intensities of the corresponding elemental regions of the first pattern of light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
For use in an X-ray imaging system for obtaining an image of the X-ray transmissivity of a body, and including a source of X-rays directable at the body, at least one X-ray sensitive screen for receiving X-rays transmitted through the body and converting received X-rays to light, and means responsive to light from said screen for producing an image; a light enhancing subsystem, comprising: means for detecting the amount of light emanating from elemental regions of the X-ray sensitive screen; and means responsive to said detecting means for producing enhancing light to enhance the light from those elemental regions of the screen which are below a predetermined light threshold, said enhancing light also being received by said image producing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
For use in an X-ray imaging system for obtaining an image of the X-ray transmissivity of a body, and including a source of X-rays directable at the body, at least one X-ray sensitive screen for receiving X-rays transmitted through the body and converting received X-rays to light, and means responsive to light from said screen for producing an image; a light enhancing subsystem, comprising: means for detecting the amount of light emanating from elemental regions of the X-ray sensitive screen; and means responsive to said detecting means for producing enhancing light to enhance the light from those elemental regions of the screen which are below a predetermined light threshold, said enhancing light also being received by said image producing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The subsystem as defined by claim 7 wherein said means for producing enhancing light for enhancing the light emanating from at least some of said respective elemental regions is operative to produce an amount of light exposure on said image producing means that is in an inverse relationship to the amount of light detected by said detecting means from the respective corresponding elemental regions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined by claim 7, wherein said light detecting means includes an array of light detecting devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined by claim 8, wherein said light detecting means includes an array of light detecting devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as defined by claim 9, wherein said means for producing enhancing light includes an array of light emitting devices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as defined by claim 10, wherein said means for producing enhancing light includes an array of light emitting devices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as defined by claim 11, wherein said array of light detecting devices and said array of light emitting devices are mounted on a common support sheet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system as defined by claim 11, wherein said means responsive to light from said screen for producing an image comprises a photographic film adjacent said at least one X-ray sensitive screen, and said photographic film and said at least one X-ray sensitive screen are packaged in a cassette; and wherein said array of light detecting devices and light emitting devices are mounted in a cassette holder which is adapted to removably receive said cassette.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system as defined by claim 12, wherein said means responsive to light from said screen for producing an image comprises a photographic film adjacent said at least one X-ray sensitive screen, and said photographic film and said at least one X-ray sensitive screen are packaged in a cassette; and wherein said array of light detecting devices and light emitting devices are mounted in a cassette holder which is adapted to removably receive said cassette.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
142 words
An X-ray imaging system for obtaining a photographic image of the X-ray transmissivity of a body, comprising: a source of X-rays directable at the body; an X-ray imaging subsystem for receiving a pattern of X-rays transmitted through the body, including, in combination: at least one X-ray-sensitive screen for converting the pattern of X-rays to a first pattern of light; a light-sensitive film adjacent said screen for receiving said first pattern of light; an array of light detecting devices positioned to also receive said first pattern of light; and light generating means responsive to the outputs of said array of light detecting devices for generating a second pattern of light which is directed at and received by said light-sensitive film; whereby an image is formed on said light-sensitive film as a result of being exposed to said first and second patterns of light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
142 words
An X-ray imaging system for obtaining a photographic image of the X-ray transmissivity of a body, comprising: a source of X-rays directable at the body; an X-ray imaging subsystem for receiving a pattern of X-rays transmitted through the body, including, in combination: at least one X-ray-sensitive screen for converting the pattern of X-rays to a first pattern of light; a light-sensitive film adjacent said screen for receiving said first pattern of light; an array of light detecting devices positioned to also receive said first pattern of light; and light generating means responsive to the outputs of said array of light detecting devices for generating a second pattern of light which is directed at and received by said light-sensitive film; whereby an image is formed on said light-sensitive film as a result of being exposed to said first and second patterns of light.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
134 words
The system as defined by claim 16, wherein said array of light detecting devices is operative to detect light intensity at elemental regions of said first pattern of light, and wherein said light generating means includes means for generating a second pattern of light having the following characteristics: (i) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity above a predetermined threshold, the light intensity of the respective elemental regions of the second pattern being substantially zero; an (ii) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity below the predetermined threshold, the respective elemental regions of the second pattern having intensities inversely related to the intensities of the corresponding elemental regions of the first pattern of light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
115 words
The system as defined by claim 16, wherein said light detecting means includes an array of light detecting devices following characteristics' (i) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity above a predetermined threshold, the light of respective elemental regions of the second pattern being present for substantially zero time; and (ii) for elemental regions corresponding to elemental regions of the first pattern of light having a light intensity below the predetermined threshold, the respective elemental regions of the second pattern having light which is present for times which are inversely related to the intensities of the corresponding elemental regions of the first pattern of light.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined by claim 16, wherein said light generating means includes an array of light emitting devices.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system as defined by claim 19, wherein said light-sensitive film and said at least one X-ray sensitive screen are packaged in a cassette, and wherein said array of light detecting devices and light emitting devices are mounted in a cassette holder which is adapted to removably receive said cassette.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-04 | 1993-03-06 | 1993-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-04 | 1997-03-06 | 1997-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-04 | 2001-03-06 | 2001-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |