US5337102A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Instant printer for volumetric imaging of data from magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-07-29
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Granted: 1994-08-09
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Expires: 2011-07-29
Abstract
Abstract An optical system using a lens assembly with the screen of a computer CRT or LCD unit, said computer being coupled to an MRI apparatus for receiving data therefrom. Data from the MRI to be presented to the CRT screen is provided as a two-dimensional image rotatable about a selected axis. Light rays from the image pass through the slit of a curtain shutter so that a continuum of views of the image will be projected onto a lenticular film. In another embodiment a Ronchi grating is used. A film having an emulsion engages the back side of the Ronchi grating forwardly of a stationary lenticular screen. A motor drives the Ronchi grating transversely of the light rays. Thus, the rotating image will be represented by light rays which pass to the Ronchi grating. The light rays pass through the grating and expose the emulsion of the film. The film can then be processed and the continuum of images exposed on the film can be viewed through the lenticular screen as three-dimensional images of the two-dimensional image shown on the CRT screen and representing the MRI data. In the alternative, the Ronchi grating can remain stationary while the film moves relative to the grating.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas A. Winnek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/28; G01R33/283; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/54; G01R33/56; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/003; G03B35/00; G03B35/18; G03B35/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for forming three-dimensional images of an object represented by data from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit comprising: a housing; means in the housing for providing a display screen for displaying the MRI data as a two-dimensional image of an object, said means being operable to rotate the image about a selective axis or translate the image relative to a reference with the image being representative of the object analyzed by said MRI unit, the image being in the form of light rays emanating from said screen; lens means for focusing the light rays on a film plane spaced from said providing means; a lenticular film at said film plane, said film having a lenticular screen and an emulsion thereon; and means between the lens system means and the lenticular film for causing the light rays to form a continuum of views of the image applied through the lenticular screen to the film emulsion whereby, when the emulsion is developed, the continuum of views can be viewed through the lenticular screen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for forming three-dimensional images of an object represented by data from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit comprising: a housing; means in the housing for providing a display screen for displaying the MRI data as a two-dimensional image of an object, said means being operable to rotate the image about a selective axis or translate the image relative to a reference with the image being representative of the object analyzed by said MRI unit, the image being in the form of light rays emanating from said screen; lens means for focusing the light rays on a film plane spaced from said providing means; a lenticular film at said film plane, said film having a lenticular screen and an emulsion thereon; and means between the lens system means and the lenticular film for causing the light rays to form a continuum of views of the image applied through the lenticular screen to the film emulsion whereby, when the emulsion is developed, the continuum of views can be viewed through the lenticular screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said causing means includes a curtain shutter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said curtain shutter is adjacent to the lens means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said curtain shutter includes a curtain shutter member having a vertical slit, means moving said curtain across the path of said light rays, and means defining a horizontal slit in intercepting relationship to the vertical slit, whereby the relative movements of the slits will cause the light rays to form a continuum of views on the emulsion of said lenticular film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said lens means includes a pair of spaced achromatic lenses between said providing means and said film plane, said shutter being in the space between the lenses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said causing means includes a grating having spaced pitch lines adjacent to the emulsion of the lenticular film, and means coupled with the grating and the lenticular film for moving the grating and lenticular film relative to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said grating is moved relative to the film, said moving means being coupled with the grating for moving the grating relative to the film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said moving means includes a power drive coupled with the lenticular film for moving the film relative to the grating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said grating is a Ronchi grating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included an MRI unit coupled with the display screen to provide data thereto of an object to be analyzed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein is included a computer having a program, a keyboard, and a controller coupled with the MRI unit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for forming three-dimensional images of an object represented by data collected by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit comprising: providing a display screen for displaying the data as a two-dimensional image of the object; rotating the image about a selected center line with the image being representative of the object analyzed by said MRI unit, the image being in the form of light rays emanating from said screen; placing a lenticular film at a film plane, said film plane having an emulsion thereon; focusing the light rays on a film plane spaced from said providing means; and causing the light rays to form a continuum of views of the image applied to the film emulsion whereby, when the emulsion is developed, the continuum of views can be viewed through a lenticular screen attached to the film.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for forming three-dimensional images of an object represented by data collected by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit comprising: providing a display screen for displaying the data as a two-dimensional image of the object; rotating the image about a selected center line with the image being representative of the object analyzed by said MRI unit, the image being in the form of light rays emanating from said screen; placing a lenticular film at a film plane, said film plane having an emulsion thereon; focusing the light rays on a film plane spaced from said providing means; and causing the light rays to form a continuum of views of the image applied to the film emulsion whereby, when the emulsion is developed, the continuum of views can be viewed through a lenticular screen attached to the film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said causing step includes shifting a vertical slit curtain shutter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein is included the step of mounting said curtain shutter adjacent to a zone of a lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said causing step includes moving said vertical slit across the path of said light rays and past a fixed horizontal slit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein is included placing a pair of achromatic lenses between said providing means and said film plane and placing a shutter in the space between the lenses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein is included placing a grating having spaced pitch lines adjacent to the emulsion of the lenticular film, and moving the grating and lenticular film relative to each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the moving step includes shifting said grating relative to the film.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein said moving step includes moving the film relative to the grating.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein said grating is a Ronchi grating.
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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) | 1997-08-08 | 1998-02-07 | 1998-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-08 | 2002-02-07 | 2002-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-08 | 2006-02-07 | 2006-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |