US6157697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus using X-rays and measurement of electrical potentials for examining living tissue
Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
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Filing: 1999-03-23
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Granted: 2000-12-05
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Expires: 2019-03-23
Abstract
Abstract In an apparatus for examining living tissue by means of X-rays and by electric impedance measurement, a control device optionally activates an X-ray source and a radiation receiver, and/or for applying current or voltage signals to the tissue to be examined and a unit for measuring induced potentials or currents. This allows an X-ray image to be produced and induced potentials and currents to be measured either simultaneously or sequentially. It is also possible to fuse the respective images produced in these ways.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Mertelmeier
- 👤 Bernhard Scholz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/50; A61B6/502; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/053; A61B5/0536; A61B6/04; A61B6/0407; A61B6/0414; A61B6/52; A61B6/5211; A61B6/5229; A61B6/5235; A61B6/5247; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/04; A61B2562/046; A61B2562/16; A61B2562/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for examining living tissue comprising: an X-ray source which emits X-rays; a compression device disposed in a path of said X-rays for compressing tissue; a radiation receiver disposed in said path of said X-rays and producing data representing an X-ray image of said tissue; an electrode arrangement disposed on said compression device having a plurality of electrodes which interact electrically with tissue compressed in said compression device; a signal source for applying signals from the group of signals consisting of current signals and/or voltage signals to at least some of said electrodes in said plurality of electrodes; a measurement device for measuring induced signals selected from the group consisting of induced potentials and/or induced currents which are induced in said tissue compressed in said compression device by said signals from said signal source; and a control unit connected to said X-ray source and to said signal source for optionally activating said X-ray source and said signal source in a sequence or substantially simultaneously.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for examining living tissue comprising: an X-ray source which emits X-rays; a compression device disposed in a path of said X-rays for compressing tissue; a radiation receiver disposed in said path of said X-rays and producing data representing an X-ray image of said tissue; an electrode arrangement disposed on said compression device having a plurality of electrodes which interact electrically with tissue compressed in said compression device; a signal source for applying signals from the group of signals consisting of current signals and/or voltage signals to at least some of said electrodes in said plurality of electrodes; a measurement device for measuring induced signals selected from the group consisting of induced potentials and/or induced currents which are induced in said tissue compressed in said compression device by said signals from said signal source; and a control unit connected to said X-ray source and to said signal source for optionally activating said X-ray source and said signal source in a sequence or substantially simultaneously.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of electrodes are comprised of a material which is substantially transparent to said X-rays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode arrangement comprises an electrically inactive region in said path of said X-rays for producing on said radiation receiver an image which is an inverse of an image of said plurality of electrodes and having substantially a same optical density as said image of said plurality of electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compression device has a region disposed in said path of said X-rays, said region being comprised of material which is substantially transparent to said X-rays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said induced signals comprise analog signals, and further comprising a converter for converting said analog signals into digital signals, and a processor supplied with said digital signals for calculating a distribution of impedance values in said tissue from said digital signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said central processor calculates said distribution of impedance values using a reconstruction algorithm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said processor calculates a three-dimensional distribution of said impedance values.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said X-ray image has an X-ray image coordinate system associated therewith and wherein said distribution of impedance values has a distribution coordinate system associated therewith, and wherein said data representing said X-ray image are supplied to said processor, and wherein said processor fuses at least a portion of said three-dimensional distribution of impedance values with said data representing said X-ray image to form a fusion image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said processor produces said fusion image by projecting said three-dimensional distribution of impedance values onto said X-ray image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said three-dimensional distribution of impedance values comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein said processor produces said fusion image by projecting at least one of said layers onto said X-ray image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said three-dimensional distribution of impedance values comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein said processor produces said fusion image by inserting said X-ray image into one of said layers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data representing said X-ray image comprise digital data.
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) | 2003-12-05 | 2004-06-05 | 2004-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-05 | 2008-06-05 | 2008-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-05 | 2012-06-05 | 2012-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |