US5235191A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Real-time x-ray device
Assignee: GUYON PETER W
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Filing: 1992-03-06
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Granted: 1993-08-10
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Expires: 2012-03-06
Abstract
Abstract An x-ray imaging system includes an x-ray source for providing x-ray photons which are directed towards a subject and impinge on a scintillating screen. The scintillating screen converts the x-ray photons into a visible light image. The screen is formed of discrete, elongate fiber optic elements arranged side-by-side, having a mirrored surface at one end thereof. The elements are formed of a mixture of glass and rate earth elements which convert the x-ray photons into visible light by first phosphoring and then lasing. The system includes a camera system for capturing the visible light image for remote viewing. A method of constructing the scintillating screen of the invention is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert N. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:20
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/64; C; C03; C03C; C03C13/00; C03C13/04; C03C13/045; C03C13/046; C03C17/00; C03C17/06; C03C3/00; C03C3/04; C03C3/076; C03C3/095; C03C4/00; C03C4/0071; C03C4/08; C03C4/087; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/02; C09K11/025; C09K11/08; C09K11/77; C09K11/7701; G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/202; G21; G21K; G21K4/00; H01; H01J; H01J31/00; H01J31/08; H01J31/50; G21K2004/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A real-time x-ray imaging system for taking an x-ray image of a subject comprising: an x-ray source for providing x-ray photons; a scintillating screen for converting said x-ray photons into a visible light image, said screen being formed of discrete elongate fiber optic elements arranged side-by-side and having a mirrored surface at one end thereof, said elements consisting of a mixture of glass and rare earth compounds which convert said x-ray photons into visible light, wherein said rare earth compounds include compounds of strontium, cesium, thallium and terbium; and a camera system for capturing said visible light image for remote viewing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A real-time x-ray imaging system for taking an x-ray image of a subject comprising: an x-ray source for providing x-ray photons; a scintillating screen for converting said x-ray photons into a visible light image, said screen being formed of discrete elongate fiber optic elements arranged side-by-side and having a mirrored surface at one end thereof, said elements consisting of a mixture of glass and rare earth compounds which convert said x-ray photons into visible light, wherein said rare earth compounds include compounds of strontium, cesium, thallium and terbium; and a camera system for capturing said visible light image for remote viewing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 1 wherein said rare earth compounds are suspended in a silica (SiO 2 ) substrate by percentage of total weight as follows: Sr 2 O-20%, Cs 2 O-14%, Tl 2 O-5% and Tb 2 O-5%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 1 wherein said elements have a generally hexagonal cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 3 wherein said elements are formed with a cross-sectional width in the range of about 0.012 mm to 0.018 mm, and are subsequently compressed to a cross-sectional width of between about 0.008 mm to 0.012 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 4 wherein each element has a length of about 3.175 mm and a visible light transit time, from one end of said element to the other end of said element, of about 1.016 picoseconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 1 wherein said mirrored surface has a metal coating taken from the group consisting of Al and Ag.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said coating has a thickness in the range of between about 0.127 mm to 0.381 mm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 1 wherein said camera system includes a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera having a peltier cooling device convectionally attached to a CCD chip, and wherein said peltier device is externally cooled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 1 wherein said camera system includes a variable field of view, automatic focussing zoom lens having a zoom ratio of 12:1 and an aperture of f 0.89.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
A real-time x-ray imaging system for taking an x-ray image of a subject comprising: an x-ray source for providing x-ray photons; a scintillating screen for converting said x-ray photons into a visible light image, said screen being formed of discrete elongate fiber optic elements arranged side-by-side and having a mirrored surface at one end thereof, said elements consisting of a mixture of glass and rare earth compounds which convert said x-ray photons into visible light, wherein said rare earth compounds are suspended in a silica (SiO 2 ) substrate by percentage of total weight as follows: Sr 2 O-20%, Cs 2 O-14%, Tl 2 O-5% and Tb 2 O-5%; and a camera system for capturing said visible light image for remote viewing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
A real-time x-ray imaging system for taking an x-ray image of a subject comprising: an x-ray source for providing x-ray photons; a scintillating screen for converting said x-ray photons into a visible light image, said screen being formed of discrete elongate fiber optic elements arranged side-by-side and having a mirrored surface at one end thereof, said elements consisting of a mixture of glass and rare earth compounds which convert said x-ray photons into visible light, wherein said rare earth compounds are suspended in a silica (SiO 2 ) substrate by percentage of total weight as follows: Sr 2 O-20%, Cs 2 O-14%, Tl 2 O-5% and Tb 2 O-5%; and a camera system for capturing said visible light image for remote viewing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 10 wherein said elements have a generally hexagonal cross section, and wherein said elements are formed with a cross-sectional width in the range of about 0.012 mm to 0.018 mm, and are subsequently compressed to a cross-sectional width of between about 0.008 mm to 0.012 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 11 wherein each element has a length of about 3.175 mm and a visible light transit time, from one end of said element to the other end of said element, of about 1.016 picoseconds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 10 wherein said mirrored surface has a metal coating, taken from the group consisting of Al and Ag, said coating having a thickness in the range of between about 0.127 mm to 0.381 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 10 wherein said camera system includes a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera having a peltier cooling device convectionally attached to a CCD chip, and wherein said peltier device is externally cooled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The real-time x-ray imaging system of claim 10 wherein said camera system includes a variable field of view, automatic, constant focus zoom lens having a zoom ration of at least 12:1 and an aperture of at least f 0.89.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-09 | 1997-02-08 | 1997-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-02-08 | 2001-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-09 | 2005-02-08 | 2005-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |