Computed tomography scanner

Patent 5917876 Issued on June 29, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 29, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Radiographic apparatus
Patent #: 4084094
Issued on: 04/11/1978
Inventor: Froggatt

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Inventor: Saito

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Inventor: Pelc

Inventors

Application

No. 959978 filed on 10/29/1997

US Classes:

378/4, Computerized tomography378/59Pipe testing

Examiners

Primary: Church, Craig E.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

Foreign Patent References

60-242348 JP. 12/13/1985
2-195237 JP. 08/13/1990
2-50508 JP. 11/13/1990
6-218844 JP. 08/13/1994
2 232 332 GB. 12/13/1990

International Class

G01N 023/00

Foreign Application Priority Data

1993-11-05 JP

Abstract

A computed tomography scanner for obtaining a tomographic image of a subject to be examined including a radiation emitting device for emitting radiation in a shape of a fan beam to the subject, a radiation detecting device for detecting the radiation that has passed through the subject to obtain detection data with respect to a tomographic plane of the subject. The radiation emitting device and the radiation detecting device determines a scanning area constituting a data collection region in a radiation plane of the fan beam. The subject has external dimensions exceeding the scanning area. The computed tomography scanner further includes a scanning device for relatively moving the subject, the radiation emitting device and the radiation detecting device in a condition that the radiation plane and the tomographic plane are on a same plane and a device for obtaining the tomographic image of a part of the subject corresponding to the scanning area from the detection data obtained by the radiation detecting device.

Other References

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Toshiba Review, No. 160, Summer 1987, pp. 13-17, Yoshinori Tanimoto, et al., "X-Ray CT Scanner for Heavy and Valuable Components"
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