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US5060246A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Computer tomography system with a scanogram

Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1989-05-19
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Granted: 1991-10-22
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Expires: 2009-05-19
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Abstract

Abstract A computer tomography system includes an X-ray tube having an elongate anode across which a beam spot can be displaced, a scanogram being formed by correctly shifting the profiles measured in the various source positions with respect to one another, followed by superposition. Parts of the object which are situated in a selected layer are thus emphasized in an image, parts of the object which are situated outside the selected layer being blurred. When a point of interest in the object is determined by observation of the scanogram, the same apparatus is used to produce a tomography slice image transverse the scanogram image. An important additional advantage consists in that the permissible power to be applied to the X-ray source may be higher. Furthermore, a scanogram thus obtained is not necessarily disturbed by the failure of one or more detectors.

Inventors

  • 👤 Willem P. Van Der Brug
  • 👤 Jan Timmer
  • 👤 Petrus N. J. Vis

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 06:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/032; A61B6/40; A61B6/4021

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 169 words
A computer tomography system comprising: first means for producing a radiation attenuation distribution image in a transverse slice of an object, said means comprising an X-ray source for irradiating an object in a plurality of directions in a plane about an axis and detector means for detecting the radiation passed through the object and for producing signals representing said detected radiation in said plurality of directions; an object carrier between said source and detector; displacement means for displacing the object carrier in a direction transverse said plane; and second means responsive to said source and detector means for creating in response to said detector signals a second image of said object extending substantially normal to said plane, said second means including means for emphasizing a given object layer by causing overlying adjacent layers of said second image to be blurred and arithmetic means for combining in superposition the detector signals generated in said plurality of directions to form said second image as a composite semi-scanogram image of said object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 169 words
A computer tomography system comprising: first means for producing a radiation attenuation distribution image in a transverse slice of an object, said means comprising an X-ray source for irradiating an object in a plurality of directions in a plane about an axis and detector means for detecting the radiation passed through the object and for producing signals representing said detected radiation in said plurality of directions; an object carrier between said source and detector; displacement means for displacing the object carrier in a direction transverse said plane; and second means responsive to said source and detector means for creating in response to said detector signals a second image of said object extending substantially normal to said plane, said second means including means for emphasizing a given object layer by causing overlying adjacent layers of said second image to be blurred and arithmetic means for combining in superposition the detector signals generated in said plurality of directions to form said second image as a composite semi-scanogram image of said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
A computer tomography system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the directions in which the object is irradiated are the same after each displacement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
A computer tomography system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the displacement is a continuous motion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
A computer tomography system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the X-ray source and the detector means perform continuous rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 42 words
A computer tomography system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein that the X-ray source is an X-ray tube comprising an elongate anode which extends transversely of the displacement direction and which is struck by an electron beam in different locations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 44 words
A computer tomography system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the anode is scanned during a rotation of the X-ray source around the object, the scanning direction of the electron beam on the elongate electrode opposing the direction of rotation of the X-ray tube.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2671867A Cited
FR1098796A Cited
US3746872A Cited
US4045672A Cited
US4114041A Cited
US4477922A Cited
US4570264A Cited
US4485480A Cited
US4766603A Cited
US4926452A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-10-21 1995-04-22 1995-10-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-10-21 1999-04-22 1999-10-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-10-21 2003-04-22 2003-10-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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