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US5604778A
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Spiral scan computed tomography apparatus with multiple x-ray sources
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1995-10-11
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Granted: 1997-02-18
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Expires: 2015-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A spiral scan computed tomography apparatus has multiple x-ray sources with their respective foci symmetrically arranged on a circle concentric with a measurement field around which the x-ray sources are rotated in order to spirally scan an examination subject while a relative motion between the x-ray sources and a patient support is produced along a longitudinal direction of the patient support. X-rays attenuated by the examination subject are detected by a stationary detector ring, or by a number of detector arrays which co-rotate with the x-ray sources on the gantry. The scan time can thereby be decreased in comparison to known systems or, within the same scan time a higher x-ray power can be achieved.
Inventors
- 👤 Arkadiusz Polacin
- 👤 Christoph Suess
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/032; A61B6/027; A61B6/40; A61B6/4007; A61B6/4014; G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/04; G01N23/046; G01N2223/00; G01N2223/40; G01N2223/419; G01N2223/60; G01N2223/612
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A spiral scan computed tomography apparatus comprising: a gantry rotatable around a system axis extending through a measurement field; a plurality of x-ray sources disposed on said gantry and co-rotatable therewith, each x-ray source having a focus and the respective foci of said x-ray sources being symmetrically disposed on a circle concentric with said measurement field; support means for supporting an examination subject, said support means having a longitudinal access extending substantially parallel to said system axis; means for producing relative motion along said longitudinal axis of said support means between said support means and said x-ray sources while said x-ray sources are rotated around said measurement field on said gantry for spirally scanning a subject on said support means with x-rays from said x-ray sources; radiation detector means for detecting radiation attenuated by said subject while said subject is spirally scanned and for generating electrical signals corresponding thereto; and computer means for generating a tomographic image of said subject from said electrical signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A spiral scan computed tomography apparatus comprising: a gantry rotatable around a system axis extending through a measurement field; a plurality of x-ray sources disposed on said gantry and co-rotatable therewith, each x-ray source having a focus and the respective foci of said x-ray sources being symmetrically disposed on a circle concentric with said measurement field; support means for supporting an examination subject, said support means having a longitudinal access extending substantially parallel to said system axis; means for producing relative motion along said longitudinal axis of said support means between said support means and said x-ray sources while said x-ray sources are rotated around said measurement field on said gantry for spirally scanning a subject on said support means with x-rays from said x-ray sources; radiation detector means for detecting radiation attenuated by said subject while said subject is spirally scanned and for generating electrical signals corresponding thereto; and computer means for generating a tomographic image of said subject from said electrical signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computed tomography apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of x-ray sources comprises three x-ray sources.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computed tomography apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for detecting comprises a stationary detector ring surrounding said measurement field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computed tomography apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said stationary detector ring comprises a plurality of rows of detector elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computed tomography apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for detecting comprises a plurality of radiation detector arrays respectively disposed opposite said plurality of x-ray sources, said plurality of detector arrays being mounted on said gantry for co-rotation with said plurality of x-ray sources.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computed tomography apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein each detector array comprises a plurality of rows of detector elements.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for obtaining a computed tomogram of a subject comprising: symmetrically disposing a plurality of x-ray sources around a measurement field, each x-ray source having a focus and the respective foci of said x-ray sources being disposed on a circle concentric with said measurement field; placing a subject on a support having a longitudinal axis; rotating said plurality of x-ray sources around said subject on said support while producing a relative motion along said longitudinal axis between said x-ray sources and said support and thereby conducting a spiral scan of said subject with x-rays emitted by said plurality of x-ray sources; detecting x-rays attenuated by said subject during the spiral scan of said subject and generating electrical signals corresponding to the attenuated x-rays; and generating a tomographic image of said subject from said electrical signals.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for obtaining a computed tomogram of a subject comprising: symmetrically disposing a plurality of x-ray sources around a measurement field, each x-ray source having a focus and the respective foci of said x-ray sources being disposed on a circle concentric with said measurement field; placing a subject on a support having a longitudinal axis; rotating said plurality of x-ray sources around said subject on said support while producing a relative motion along said longitudinal axis between said x-ray sources and said support and thereby conducting a spiral scan of said subject with x-rays emitted by said plurality of x-ray sources; detecting x-rays attenuated by said subject during the spiral scan of said subject and generating electrical signals corresponding to the attenuated x-rays; and generating a tomographic image of said subject from said electrical signals.
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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) | 2000-02-18 | 2000-08-19 | 2001-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-18 | 2004-08-19 | 2005-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-18 | 2008-08-19 | 2009-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |