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US6717174B2
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System for quantitative radiographic imaging
Assignee: UMass Memorial Medical Center
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Filing: 2001-06-29
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Granted: 2004-04-06
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Expires: 2021-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A system for imaging of bodily tissue in which an x-ray source, an optical storage element, a light source and a detector array are used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the storage element. The storage element reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. Each image is directed onto a CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of separate images.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Karellas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/06; A61B6/40; A61B6/4035; A61B6/405; A61B6/42; A61B6/4208; A61B6/4233; A61B6/4241; A61B6/4258; A61B6/50; A61B6/502; A61B6/505; A61B6/508; A61B6/51; A61B6/512; G; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/10; G21K4/00; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/30; H04N23/50; H04N23/54; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0091; A61B6/4291; A61B6/44; A61B6/4423; A61B6/4488
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for examining a region of a patient comprising: an x-ray radiation source that directs radiation through the region: an optical storage element that receives radiation transmitted through the region at a storage region of the optical storage element, the storage region having a two dimensional surface area; a light source that simultaneously illuminates the entire two dimensional surface area of the storage region of the optical storage element to induce a fluorescence emission of an image of the region from the storage region; a two dimensional detector array optically coupled to the optical storage element such that the array receives the fluorescence emission at a plurality of pixels and generates an electronic representation of the tissue; and a two dimensional optical coupling system that couples the image of the region onto the two dimensional detector array.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for examining a region of a patient comprising: an x-ray radiation source that directs radiation through the region: an optical storage element that receives radiation transmitted through the region at a storage region of the optical storage element, the storage region having a two dimensional surface area; a light source that simultaneously illuminates the entire two dimensional surface area of the storage region of the optical storage element to induce a fluorescence emission of an image of the region from the storage region; a two dimensional detector array optically coupled to the optical storage element such that the array receives the fluorescence emission at a plurality of pixels and generates an electronic representation of the tissue; and a two dimensional optical coupling system that couples the image of the region onto the two dimensional detector array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical storage element comprises a photostimulable phosphor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source further comprises a laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source further comprises a broadband light source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cassette that contains the optical storage element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the two dimensional optical coupling system comprises a thin film filter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is stationary relative to the optical storage element during illumination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical coupling system comprises a fiberoptic device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical coupling system comprises an image intensifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical coupling system comprises a lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a spatial light modulator between the light source and the optical storage element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detector comprises a charge coupled device.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for examining tissue of a patient comprising the steps of: directing x-ray radiation through the tissue of the patient to produce a radiation pattern that is transmitted onto a two dimensional surface of an optical storage element, such that the optical storage element receives a two dimensional radiation pattern representative of the spatial distribution and intensity of the radiation pattern; directing light simultaneously onto the entire two dimensional surface of the optical storage element to produce an optical signal representative of the spatial distribution and intensity of the radiation pattern; and receiving the optical signal on a two dimensional detector array comprising a plurality of pixels and generating an electronic representation of the tissue.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for examining tissue of a patient comprising the steps of: directing x-ray radiation through the tissue of the patient to produce a radiation pattern that is transmitted onto a two dimensional surface of an optical storage element, such that the optical storage element receives a two dimensional radiation pattern representative of the spatial distribution and intensity of the radiation pattern; directing light simultaneously onto the entire two dimensional surface of the optical storage element to produce an optical signal representative of the spatial distribution and intensity of the radiation pattern; and receiving the optical signal on a two dimensional detector array comprising a plurality of pixels and generating an electronic representation of the tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the optical storage element comprises a photostimulable phosphor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the pulse of light is produced by a light source comprising a broadband light source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the optical storage element is contained in a cassette.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising optically coupling the optical signal to the detector array with an optical element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising filtering the optical signal with the optical element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising intensifying the optical signal with an image intensifier.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for examining a patient's spine comprising: an x-ray radiation source emitting radiation which is directed through the spine; an optical storage element having a surface area that receives the radiation transmitted through the spine; a detector into which the optical storage element can be mounted comprising a detector array; and a light source that can be optically coupled to the surface area of the optical storage element to simultaneously illuminate the entire surface area of the optical storage element to produce an optical signal that is transmitted onto the detector array.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for examining a patient's spine comprising: an x-ray radiation source emitting radiation which is directed through the spine; an optical storage element having a surface area that receives the radiation transmitted through the spine; a detector into which the optical storage element can be mounted comprising a detector array; and a light source that can be optically coupled to the surface area of the optical storage element to simultaneously illuminate the entire surface area of the optical storage element to produce an optical signal that is transmitted onto the detector array.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the x-ray radiation source comprises an x-ray tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coupling system comprises an expander.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the expander comprises a fiber optic device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a filter positioned between the storage element and the expander.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source emits light having a wavelength longer than 800 nanometers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detector array is an amorphous silicon sensor.
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