US6744848B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for low-dose three-dimensional imaging of a scene
Assignee: Brandeis University
•
Filing: 2001-02-12
•
Granted: 2004-06-01
•
Expires: 2021-02-12
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a system for imaging an object by irradiating it with low doses of radiation, such as x-ray, from a plurality of positions angularly distributed about the object, and analyzing the intensity of the radiation transmitted through the object. A system according to the invention can include a radiation source, a low noise detector, and an image processor. The radiation source emits radiation toward a target scene, containing an object to be imaged, from a plurality of angular positions. In one embodiment, the plurality of angular positions defines an arc about the target scene. In another embodiment, the radiation source moves in a series of steps of varying angular spacing along the arc to generate the multiple images of the scene. The detector is positioned to detect radiation transmitted through the scene and produces radiation transmission data representing the intensity of the radiation transmitted through the scene. The image processor receives the radiation transmission data from the detector and produces a three-dimensional image of the scene. In some embodiments of the invention, the resolution of the detector can be varied. In such embodiments, the system of the invention further includes a resolution controller that varies the spatial resolution of the detector in response to the angular position from which radiation is emitted toward the scene.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Stanton
- 👤 Alexander Stewart
- 👤 Walter Phillips
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/46; A61B6/461; A61B6/466; A61B6/50; A61B6/502; G; G01; G01B; G01B15/00; G01B15/02; G01B15/025; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/04; G01N23/046; G06; G06T; G06T12/00; G06T12/20; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/032; A61B6/40; A61B6/4064; A61B6/4085; A61B6/44; A61B6/4488; G01N2223/00; G01N2223/40; G01N2223/419; G06T2211/00; G06T2211/40; G06T2211/436
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for imaging a scene, comprising the steps of irradiating a scene from a plurality of angular positions, detecting radiation transmitted through the scene at a plurality of different spatial resolutions corresponding to the plurality of angular positions; producing two-dimensional transmission data representative of the intensity of the radiation transmitted through the scene at each of the plurality of angular positions; and producing a three-dimensional image of the scene based on said two-dimensional transmission data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for imaging a scene, comprising the steps of irradiating a scene from a plurality of angular positions, detecting radiation transmitted through the scene at a plurality of different spatial resolutions corresponding to the plurality of angular positions; producing two-dimensional transmission data representative of the intensity of the radiation transmitted through the scene at each of the plurality of angular positions; and producing a three-dimensional image of the scene based on said two-dimensional transmission data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of irradiating the scene further comprises the step of irradiating the scene using x-ray radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of irradiating the scene further comprises the step of irradiating the scene using a total radiation dose which is less than or approximately equal to a dose of a standard screening mammogram.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein said standard dose is approximately 80 mrad per image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of angular positions forms an arc about the scene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the arc spans a plane and has an axis of rotation on a line in the plane that is perpendicular to the scene and that extends through approximately the center of the scene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of irradiating the scene further comprises the step of varying the angular spacing between the plurality of angular positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the scene is a three-dimensional scene and wherein the step of producing radiation transmission data further comprises the steps of: producing high resolution radiation transmission data for two dimensions of the scene; and producing low resolution radiation transmission data for a third dimension of the scene.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of imaging an object, comprising the steps of: irradiating the object from a plurality of non-uniformly distributed angular positions; detecting radiation transmitted through the object for each of said angular positions to create two-dimensional transmission data; and constructing a three-dimensional image of the object by analyzing said radiation transmission data; wherein the step of irradiating includes irradiating the object with a first radiation dose at one angular position of the source and irradiating the object with a second radiation dose at another angular position, said second radiation dose being different from said first radiation dose.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of imaging an object, comprising the steps of: irradiating the object from a plurality of non-uniformly distributed angular positions; detecting radiation transmitted through the object for each of said angular positions to create two-dimensional transmission data; and constructing a three-dimensional image of the object by analyzing said radiation transmission data; wherein the step of irradiating includes irradiating the object with a first radiation dose at one angular position of the source and irradiating the object with a second radiation dose at another angular position, said second radiation dose being different from said first radiation dose.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of imaging an object, comprising the steps of: irradiating the object from a plurality of non-uniformly distributed angular positions, detecting radiation transmitted through the object for each of said angular positions to create two-dimensional transmission data; and constructing a three-dimensional image of the object by analyzing said radiation transmission data; wherein the step of irradiating the object comprises selecting a sufficiently low dose of radiation for each angular irradiation such that a total dose of radiation per three-dimensional image is approximately 80 mrad.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of imaging an object, comprising the steps of: irradiating the object from a plurality of non-uniformly distributed angular positions, detecting radiation transmitted through the object for each of said angular positions to create two-dimensional transmission data; and constructing a three-dimensional image of the object by analyzing said radiation transmission data; wherein the step of irradiating the object comprises selecting a sufficiently low dose of radiation for each angular irradiation such that a total dose of radiation per three-dimensional image is approximately 80 mrad.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of imaging an object, the method comprising the steps of: irradiating the object multiple times, each irradiation being performed at a position angularly displaced from a previous irradiation position, said annular positions being non-uniformly distributed about the object; detecting radiation transmitted through the object at each of said angular positions to create two-dimensional radiation transmission data; and constructing a three dimensional image of the object by analyzing said transmission data; wherein the step of irradiating the object comprises selecting each irradiation dose to be sufficiently low such that total dose of radiation per three-dimensional image is approximately 80 mrad.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of imaging an object, the method comprising the steps of: irradiating the object multiple times, each irradiation being performed at a position angularly displaced from a previous irradiation position, said annular positions being non-uniformly distributed about the object; detecting radiation transmitted through the object at each of said angular positions to create two-dimensional radiation transmission data; and constructing a three dimensional image of the object by analyzing said transmission data; wherein the step of irradiating the object comprises selecting each irradiation dose to be sufficiently low such that total dose of radiation per three-dimensional image is approximately 80 mrad.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of imaging an object, comprising the steps of: irradiating the object from a plurality of non-uniformly distributed angular positions; detecting radiation transmitted through the object for each of said angular positions at a different spatial resolution to create a two-dimensional radiation transmission data; and constructing a three-dimensional image of the object by analyzing said transmission data.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of imaging an object, comprising the steps of: irradiating the object from a plurality of non-uniformly distributed angular positions; detecting radiation transmitted through the object for each of said angular positions at a different spatial resolution to create a two-dimensional radiation transmission data; and constructing a three-dimensional image of the object by analyzing said transmission data.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of imaging an object, the method comprising the steps of: irradiating the object multiple times, each irradiation being performed at a position angularly displaced from a previous irradiation position, said angular positions being non-uniformly distributed about the object; detecting radiation transmitted through the object at each of said angular positions at a different spatial resolution to create a two-dimensional radiation transmission data; and constructing a three-dimensional image of the object by analyzing said radiation transmission data.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of imaging an object, the method comprising the steps of: irradiating the object multiple times, each irradiation being performed at a position angularly displaced from a previous irradiation position, said angular positions being non-uniformly distributed about the object; detecting radiation transmitted through the object at each of said angular positions at a different spatial resolution to create a two-dimensional radiation transmission data; and constructing a three-dimensional image of the object by analyzing said radiation transmission data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4303860A
Cited
US4323925A
Cited
US4445117A
Cited
US4852137A
Cited
US4970398A
Cited
US5197294A
Cited
US5072591A
Cited
US5142557A
Cited
US5550386A
Cited
US5235184A
Cited
US5216250A
Cited
US5533087A
Cited
US5596200A
Cited
US6265736B1
Cited
US5550380A
Cited
US5891959A
Cited
US5551244A
Cited
US5604781A
Cited
US5617461A
Cited
US5693948A
Cited
US5896437A
Cited
US5852646A
Cited
US5872828A
Cited
US5999587A
Cited
US6618468B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-01 | 2007-12-01 | 2008-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-01 | 2011-12-01 | 2012-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-01 | 2015-12-01 | 2016-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |