Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8189736 | X-ray CT apparatus Provided is an X-ray CT apparatus which can perform CT scan of multi-energy scanning at a high speed and can obtain an image having an excellent substance distinguishing ability. The X-ray CT apparatus includes: means to continuously perform a first CT scanning usin... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8180016 | X-ray CT apparatus and method thereof In an X-ray CT apparatus 1 and an X-ray CT method, the thickness of an object to be inspected is computed on the basis of the number of transmitted X-rays in a specific energy range set above and below the K-absorption edge of an X-ray contrast medium serving... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8165264 | Method of pre-reconstruction decomposition for fast kV-switching acquisition in dual energy computed tomography (CT) Fast kV-switching is a dual energy acquisition technique in computed tomography (CT) in which alternating views correspond to the low and high tube voltages. Its high temporal resolution and its suitability to a variety of source trajectories make it an attractive o... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8121248 | X-ray detector methods and apparatus A method includes performing an x-ray focal spot deflection to generate two complete projections from two different channels of an x-ray detector, wherein the channels are purposefully different from each other in some respect other than being different channels. | 02/21/2012 |
| 8111803 | Method for energy sensitive computed tomography using checkerboard filtering Methods for energy-sensitive computed tomography systems that use checkerboard filtering. A method of enhancing image analysis of projection data acquired using a detector configured with a checkerboard filter includes disposing in a system a detector to receive a t... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8068578 | Method for recognizing and marking contrast agents in blood vessels of the lung with the aid of a CT examination and an image evaluation unit of a CT system A method and an image evaluation unit are disclosed for recognizing and marking contrast agents in blood vessels of the lung with the aid of a CT examination using at least two different x-ray energy spectra. In at least one embodiment, the method includes scanning ... | 11/29/2011 |
| 8009793 | Method for imaging plaque using dual energy CT Two x-ray CT images are acquired of arterial plaque using x-rays at two different energy levels. The reconstructed images are normalized by adjusting pixel brightness until pixels depicting a region containing calcium have substantially the same brightness. The norm... | 08/30/2011 |
| 8000434 | Energy spectrum reconstruction A computed tomography system includes an x-ray source (108) that rotates about and emits radiation through an imaging region (116). At least one finite energy resolution detector (112) detects the emitted radiation. The at least one finite resol... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7983382 | System and method for material segmentation utilizing computed tomography scans Certain embodiments provide a radiation analysis system for material segmentation utilizing computed tomography (CT) scans. The radiation analysis system includes an input module configured to input dual energy data. The dual energy scanned data includes first data ... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7970096 | Method of and system for low cost implementation of dual energy CT imaging The disclosed CT scanner comprises at least one source of X-rays; a detector array comprising a plurality of detectors; and an X-ray filter mask arrangement disposed between the source of X-rays and detector array so as to modify the spectra of the X-rays transmitte... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7961838 | Computerized tomography image reconstruction Systems and methods include coordinated (KV) and megaelectronvolt (MV) computerized tomography (CT) imaging. KV and MV data are combined using a normalization process in order to generate CT images. The resulting CT images can include an improved signal to noise rat... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7949088 | X-ray CT apparatus and method for processing X-ray projection data An X-ray CT apparatus includes an X-ray irradiation unit for applying X-rays based on a first X-ray tube voltage and X-rays based on a second X-ray tube voltage to a subject by being switched every one view, a projection data acquisition unit for acquiring projectio... | 05/24/2011 |
| 7924969 | X ray CT system The dual energy X-ray CT apparatus automatically optimizes a map for separation to achieve a high degree of separation accuracy and a reduction of dose. An X-ray attenuation coefficient acquired in the dual energy X-ray CT system is applied to a map for separ... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7924970 | Method and device for generating a CT image with a high time resolution A method and a device are disclosed for generating a CT image with a high time resolution using a computed tomography scanner which has at least two recording systems which are operated at different X-ray energy spectra. In at least one embodiment of the process, CT... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7894568 | Energy distribution reconstruction in CT The reconstruction of the energy distribution at a detector with a detector element that consists of many small pixels, which count the number of photons above certain thresholds, is performed with a Maximum Likelihood analysis, according to an aspect of the present... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7894569 | Medical X-ray examination apparatus for performing K-edge imaging The invention relates to a medical X-ray examination apparatus (1) for performing K-edge imaging. The medical X-ray examination apparatus (1) comprises an imaging unit (21), which is configured to spectrally decompose an X-ray absorption spectru... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7885373 | System and method for quantitative imaging of chemical composition to decompose multiple materials The present invention provides a material decomposition method capable of determining the distribution of density and constituent material concentration throughout an imaged object. The concentration, in the form of a mass fraction, mass percent, weight fraction, or... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7885372 | System and method for energy sensitive computed tomography An energy-sensitive computed tomography system is provided. The energy-sensitive computed tomography system includes an X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray beam resulting from electrons impinging upon a target material. The energy-sensitive computed tomography ... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7881424 | Method for calibrating dual-energy CT system and method of image reconstruction A method for calibrating a dual-energy CT system and an image reconstruction method are disclosed to calculate images of atomic number and density of a scanned object as well as its attenuation coefficient images at any energy level. The present invention removes th... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7876874 | Radiographing apparatus and image processing program A radiographing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is characterized in that an image processing device comprises an acquisition device which acquires projection data of a first energy spectrum and projection data of a second energy spectrum, a... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7873141 | X-ray tomographic imaging apparatus For the purpose of providing an X-ray tomographic imaging apparatus for displaying a dual-energy image to facilitate diagnosis by an operator, an X-ray tomographic imaging apparatus (10) comprises: an image comparison information calculating section (24 | 01/18/2011 |
| 7869559 | X-ray detector methods and apparatus A method includes performing an x-ray focal spot deflection to generate two complete projections from two different channels of an x-ray detector, wherein the channels are purposefully different from each other in some respect other than being different channels. | 01/11/2011 |
| 7869560 | X-ray CT apparatus and image processing apparatus An X-ray CT apparatus includes an X-ray radiation unit which applies a first X-ray having a first energy spectrum and a second X-ray having a second energy spectrum different from the first energy spectrum to a subject, an X-ray data acquisition unit which acquires ... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7822169 | Noise reduction in dual-energy X-ray imaging It is described a method for reducing noise of X-ray attenuation data related to a first and second spectral X-ray data acquisition. The method comprises the steps of (a) acquiring data representing the X-ray attenuation behavior of a region of interest, (b) determi... | 10/26/2010 |
| 7801264 | Method for calibrating a dual -spectral computed tomography (CT) system A method for calibrating and reconstructing material density images in a dual-spectral computed tomography (CT) system 100 is disclosed. An X-ray source in the CT system 100 emits a first X-ray spectrum and a second X-ray spectrum towards an object. Th... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7801265 | System and method for creating mixed image from dual-energy CT data A system and method for creating a combined or mixed-energy image using both low- and high-energy CT data sets acquired using a dual-energy CT system. The low- and high-energy datasets are mixed using desired weighting factors to mimic a “single-energy” image. T... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7778383 | Effective dual-energy x-ray attenuation measurement It is described a method and a CT system for measuring dual-energy X- ray attenuation data of an object. The CT system comprises a rotatable holder, an X-ray source comprising two different X-ray focus points, and an X-ray detection device comprising a plurality of ... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7778382 | CT imaging system with multiple peak x-ray source An x-ray source (32) for performing energy discrimination within an imaging system (10) includes a cathode-emitting device (82) for emitting electrons and an anode (81) that has a target (80) whereupon the electrons impinge to gene... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7756240 | X-ray computed tomography apparatus The present invention provides an X-ray CT apparatus capable of improving image quality of a dual energy image. The X-ray CT apparatus comprises an X-ray tube for applying X rays having a first energy spectrum and X rays having a second energy spectrum different fro... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7756239 | Diagnostic imaging two non K-edge basis materials plus N K-edge contrast agents A diagnostic imaging system in an example comprises a high frequency electromagnetic energy source, a detector, a data acquisition system (DAS), and a computer. The high frequency electromagnetic energy source emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy to... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7724865 | System and method of optimizing a monochromatic representation of basis material decomposed CT images A system and method of a diagnostic imaging system includes a high frequency electromagnetic energy source that emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged, a detector that receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitte... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7706497 | Methods and apparatus for noise estimation for multi-resolution anisotropic diffusion filtering A method for reducing noise in a computed tomographic (CT) image includes acquiring both a first set of projection views and a second set of projection views, wherein for each projection view in the first set of projection views there is an associated projection vie... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7688935 | Method and apparatus of multi-energy imaging The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of multi-energy data acquisition. An imaging system is also provided and includes a number of HF electromagnetic energy filters. The filters include at least a first and a second filter wherein the first fi... | 03/30/2010 |
| 7688936 | Method and apparatus of multi-energy imaging The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of multi-energy data acquisition. An imaging system is also provided and includes a number of HF electromagnetic energy filters. The filters include at least a first and a second filter wherein the first fi... | 03/30/2010 |
| 7646843 | Method for producing projective and tomographic phase contrast images with the aid of an X-ray system A method is disclosed for producing projective and tomographic phase contrast images of an examination object, preferably a patient, with the aid of an X-ray system, and a corresponding X-ray system for carrying out this method. In at least one embodiment of the met... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7639773 | X-ray CT apparatus and method of generating an image The present invention provides an X-ray CT apparatus for imaging an MD image having a better S/N. The X-ray CT apparatus for taking an image with one of two materials within a subject to be examined being fractionated, acquiring two sets of data corresponding to sai... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7620141 | X-ray imaging apparatus The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus using a technique for preventing artifacts appearing in 3D X-ray images. The technique involves subtraction images obtained by an energy subtraction unit serving as the basis for a 3D reconstruction process... | 11/17/2009 |
| 7613274 | Method and system of energy integrating and photon counting using layered photon counting detector A diagnostic imaging system includes an x-ray source that emits a beam of x-ray energy toward an object to be imaged and an energy discriminating (ED) detector that receives the x-ray energy emitted by the x-ray energy source. The ED detector includes a first layer ... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7551708 | Method of iterative reconstruction for energy discriminating computed tomography systems A new method extends iterated coordinate descent (“ICD”)—an optimization method employed in some statistical reconstruction algorithms—to handle material decomposition (“MD”) for energy discriminating computed tomography (“EDCT”) acquisitions. ... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7545902 | Received x-ray handling methods and apparatus A method includes placing received x-rays into at least three bins. ... | 06/09/2009 |
