US3831031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Zone plate imaging system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1972-09-15
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Granted: 1974-08-20
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Expires: 1992-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A nuclear imaging system for mapping a spatially distributed source of high energy nuclear particles from a living organ which has selectively absorbed a radioactive compound in which the nuclear energy is spatially coded and modulated on a carrier for recording on a record medium as a shadow hologram in which signal strength and definition enhancement may be achieved by converting the amplitude hologram to a phase hologram while reducing the size of the hologram to allow tomographic reconstruction of the nuclear energy source with a substantially coherent beam of light.
Inventors
- 👤 H Barrett
- 👤 G Demeester
- 👤 D Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/29; G01T1/2914; G01T1/2921; G01T1/295; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/42; A61B6/4208; A61B6/4258; G01T1/16; G01T1/161; G01T1/164; G01T1/1641; G01T1/1644; G01T1/1645
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
In combination: means for spatially modulating substantially non-phase coherent radiant energy as a function of a spatial code pattern comprising a plurality of masks spaced from each other in the average direction of said radiation; each of said masks having a plurality of regions substantially permeable to said radiation separated by intervening regions substantially less permeable to said radiation than said permeable regions; said intervening regions having a thickness in the average direction of said radiation which is less than average spacing between said permeable regions; means for deriving from said radiant energy pattern a spatially distributed pattern having an informational component representing the spatial distribution of a radiopharmaceutical selectively absorbed by an organ of living tissue and emitting said radiant energy in a medium in which the refraction of rays of radiant energy passing through said medium varies spatially as a function of said radiation pattern; and means for deriving an image from the informational content of said pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
In combination: means for spatially modulating substantially non-phase coherent radiant energy as a function of a spatial code pattern comprising a plurality of masks spaced from each other in the average direction of said radiation; each of said masks having a plurality of regions substantially permeable to said radiation separated by intervening regions substantially less permeable to said radiation than said permeable regions; said intervening regions having a thickness in the average direction of said radiation which is less than average spacing between said permeable regions; means for deriving from said radiant energy pattern a spatially distributed pattern having an informational component representing the spatial distribution of a radiopharmaceutical selectively absorbed by an organ of living tissue and emitting said radiant energy in a medium in which the refraction of rays of radiant energy passing through said medium varies spatially as a function of said radiation pattern; and means for deriving an image from the informational content of said pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spatial code pattern comprises at least a portion of a Fresnel zone pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said spatial code pattern comprises an off-center section of a Fresnel zone pattern convolved with a substantially constant spatial periodicity pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said image deriving means comprises a substantially phase coherent source of radiation directed through said medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means for detecting said pattern comprises a matrix of elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein the projection of portions of the physical structure of said elements in the detected pattern form acute angles with respect to the projection of the spatially periodic pattern whereby substantial effects of the physical structure of said elements in said image are reduced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said detecting means comprises a photographic film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said detecting means comprises means for amplifying signals derived from discrete quanta of said radiant energy pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said radiation pattern comprises gamma radiation and said detecting means comprises means for converting said radiation from a high-energy portion of the spectrum to a lower energy portion of the spectrum, means for amplifying said converted energy, and means for recording signals derived from said amplified imaging.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
The process of forming an image of an organ of a living organism in which said organ contains a substance which emits and/or absorbs high-energy radiation comprising the steps of: spatially coding said radiations by a structure comprising a plurality of masks spaced from each other in the average direction of said radiation; each of said masks having a plurality of regions substantially permeable to said radiation separated by intervening regions substantially less permeable to said radiation than said permeable regions; said intervening regions having a thickness in the average direction of said radiation which is less than the average spacing between said permeable regions; forming in a medium a spatial pattern derived from said radiations in which indices of refraction and/or thickness of said medium very spatially as a function of at least a component of said radiation pattern; and projecting substantiAlly coherent radiation toward said medium to form an image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
152 words
The process of forming an image of an organ of a living organism in which said organ contains a substance which emits and/or absorbs high-energy radiation comprising the steps of: spatially coding said radiations by a structure comprising a plurality of masks spaced from each other in the average direction of said radiation; each of said masks having a plurality of regions substantially permeable to said radiation separated by intervening regions substantially less permeable to said radiation than said permeable regions; said intervening regions having a thickness in the average direction of said radiation which is less than the average spacing between said permeable regions; forming in a medium a spatial pattern derived from said radiations in which indices of refraction and/or thickness of said medium very spatially as a function of at least a component of said radiation pattern; and projecting substantiAlly coherent radiation toward said medium to form an image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process in accordance with claim 10 wherein said pattern formed in said medium is substantially reduced in size from an intensity pattern of said radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process in accordance with claim 11 wherein said intensity pattern is detected at least in part by converting said radiation emanating from and/or absorbed by said organ as high-energy radiation into a lower energy level of radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said intensity pattern is detected at least in part by recording said converted radiation in a radiation responsive element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process in accordance with claim 13 wherein said radiation is detected at least in part by amplifying said converted radiation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process in accordance with claim 10 wherein said pattern comprises an off-center section of a Fresnel zone pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process in accordance with claim 15 wherein said spatial pattern comprises a substantially constant spatial periodicity component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process in accordance with claim 16 wherein said spatial pattern is detected at least in part by a matrix of elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process in accordance with claim 17 wherein projections of structural characteristics of said matrix form acute angles in said intensity pattern with said constant periodicity component.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process in accordance with claim 18 wherein said matrix of elements comprises spatially distributed intensity amplifiers forming an amplified image of substantially the same size as the spatially coded pattern incident thereon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |