US4764948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data marking system for medical x-rays, particularly mammograms
Assignee: HURWITZ PAULA D/B/A IMAGIX 2310 TUSTIN AVENUE NEWPORT BEACH CALIFORNIA 92660
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Filing: 1987-03-09
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Granted: 1988-08-16
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Expires: 2007-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A substrate transparent to x-rays mounts a resilient layer transparent to x-rays, and an overlying thin blocker layer of fracturable lead or tin foil which is opaque to x-rays. When impressed or typewritten the blocker layer is selectively stenciled or fractured to permit selective passage of x-rays therethrough. The substrate or a perforated portion thereof mounting the stencil, is emplaced upon an x-ray cassette during x-ray exposure to capture the stencilized data in the permanent film image. Visual inspection of stencilized data may be aided by a white paint layer disposed upon the blocker layer. Affixation to the film or cassette may be aided by a pressure sensitive adhesive layer in an area adjacent the other superimposed layers.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Hurwitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:12
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/04; G03B42/047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A data marking system for medical mammography comprising: a substrate which is transparent to x-rays and suitable for manipulation within a typewriter; a layer of resilient material, which material is transparent to x-rays disposed upon an area of the card; a layer of blocker material, which blocker material is opaque to x-rays disposed upon the layer of resilient material, which, when temporarily compressed by a force resultant from normal typewriting, is locally fractured to permit x-rays to pass through the blocker material in the locally fractured area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A data marking system for medical mammography comprising: a substrate which is transparent to x-rays and suitable for manipulation within a typewriter; a layer of resilient material, which material is transparent to x-rays disposed upon an area of the card; a layer of blocker material, which blocker material is opaque to x-rays disposed upon the layer of resilient material, which, when temporarily compressed by a force resultant from normal typewriting, is locally fractured to permit x-rays to pass through the blocker material in the locally fractured area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data marking system according to claim 1 further comprising: a layer of adhesive material, which adhesive material is transparent to x-rays, disposed adjacent said area side of the card.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The data marking system for medical x-rays according to claim 2 further comprising: a peelable shield layer disposed upon the layer of adhesive material, for protecting the adhesive layer until removed by peeling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The data marking system according to claim 2 wherein the layer of adhesive material is pressure sensitive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The data marking system according to claim 4 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer may be separated from a first surface to which it is adhesively affixed and reaffixed to a successor surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The data marking system according to claim 1 further comprising: a layer of printable material, which printable material is transparent to x-rays, disposed upon the layer of blocker material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The data marking system for medical x-rays according to claim 1 wherein the layer of blocker material comprises a metal foil having a thickness sufficient to be opaque to an x-ray beam of a standard film-screen technique.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data marking system for according to claim 1 wherein the layer of blocker material comprises a metal foil having a thickness sufficient to be opaque to positive mode xeroradiography.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The data marking system according to claim 1 wherein the layer of blocker material comprises a metal foil having a sufficient thickness to be opaque to negative mode xeroradiography without being so thick that toner robbing results in a white halo in the xeroradiographic x-ray image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The data marking system according to claim 1 wherein the layer of resilient material is plastic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
A medical x-ray patient data marking system suitable for affixation to the surface of mammography or x-ray film carriers during the exposure thereof, the system comprising: a substrate layer transparent to x-rays; a resilient layer disposed upon the substrate layer and transparent to x-rays, which indents upon the temporary local application of a compressive force and thereafter returns to a substantially planar condition; and a deformable layer disposed upon the resilient layer and opaque to x-rays, which fractures to create a stencil in response to the temporary local application of the compressive force; and means affixing said substrate upon a mammography film carrier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
A medical x-ray patient data marking system suitable for affixation to the surface of mammography or x-ray film carriers during the exposure thereof, the system comprising: a substrate layer transparent to x-rays; a resilient layer disposed upon the substrate layer and transparent to x-rays, which indents upon the temporary local application of a compressive force and thereafter returns to a substantially planar condition; and a deformable layer disposed upon the resilient layer and opaque to x-rays, which fractures to create a stencil in response to the temporary local application of the compressive force; and means affixing said substrate upon a mammography film carrier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 11 wherein the resilient layer and the deformable layer are formed in area only partially coextensive with the underlying substrate layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 12 wherein said affixing means comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive layer formed on said substrate adjacent said resilient layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 13 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer comprises means for allowing removal from the mammography film carrier surface to which it is adhesively affixed and reaffixing to a successor mammography film carrier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 11 further comprising: a printable layer disposed upon the deformable layer and transparent to x-rays, which transmits the temporarily applied local pressure to the underlying deformable layer while also producing a visible record of all localities whereat such local pressure was applied.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 11 further comprising: a backing support layer, transparent to x-rays and intermediary between the resilient layer and the deformable layer, said backing support base being permanently affixed to the substrate layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 11 wherein the deformable layer is a metal foil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 17 wherein the metal foil layer is of thickness sufficient to be opaque to an x-ray beam of a standard film-screen mammography apparatus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 17 wherein the metal foil layer is of thickness sufficient to be opaque to positive mode xeroradiography.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 17 wherein the metal foil layer is of thickness sufficient to be opaque to negative mode xeroradiography.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 18 wherein the metal foil layer is substantially pure lead of thickness greater than 0.750 mil.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 19 wherein the metal foil layer is substantially pure tin of thickness greater than 3 mil.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The medical x-ray patient data marking system according to claim 20 wherein the metal foil layer is substantially pure tin of thickness between 0.750 mil. and 1.5 mil.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
122 words
A patient data marking system for an x-ray mammography cassette, the system comprising: a card, which card is transparent to x-rays, insertable into a typewriter and mounting further components; a soft layer, which layer is transparent to x-rays, carried upon an area of the card, the soft layer being readily depressed by temporary local applications of a compressive force; a blocker layer, opaque to x-rays and carried upon the soft layer, which is locally fractured by temporary local compressive force applications resultant from typewriting; and an adhesive layer, which layer is transparent to x-rays, carried upon an area of the card separate from the soft layer, the adhesive layer comprises means for adhesively holding the stencilized blocker layer upon a mammography cassette.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
122 words
A patient data marking system for an x-ray mammography cassette, the system comprising: a card, which card is transparent to x-rays, insertable into a typewriter and mounting further components; a soft layer, which layer is transparent to x-rays, carried upon an area of the card, the soft layer being readily depressed by temporary local applications of a compressive force; a blocker layer, opaque to x-rays and carried upon the soft layer, which is locally fractured by temporary local compressive force applications resultant from typewriting; and an adhesive layer, which layer is transparent to x-rays, carried upon an area of the card separate from the soft layer, the adhesive layer comprises means for adhesively holding the stencilized blocker layer upon a mammography cassette.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of manufacturing a label suitable for use by medical personnel to record data so as to be visible as an image within the emulsion of a medical x-ray, the method comprising: preparing a flexible card which is transparent to x-rays and suitable for manipulation within a typewriter; first layering at a first area location upon the card a soft material which is transparent to x-rays; a second layering at the first area location upon the card on top of the soft material a blocker material which is opaque to x-rays and which is locally fractured by typewriting.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of manufacturing a label suitable for use by medical personnel to record data so as to be visible as an image within the emulsion of a medical x-ray, the method comprising: preparing a flexible card which is transparent to x-rays and suitable for manipulation within a typewriter; first layering at a first area location upon the card a soft material which is transparent to x-rays; a second layering at the first area location upon the card on top of the soft material a blocker material which is opaque to x-rays and which is locally fractured by typewriting.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of manufacturing a medical x-ray data label according to claim 25 further comprising: third layering at a second area location upon the card, separate from the first area location upon the same side of the card, an adhesive material which is transparent to x-rays.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of manufacturing a medical x-ray data label according to claim 26 further comprising: fourth layering at the second area location upon the card and on top of the adhesive material a peelable shield which protects the adhesive until removed by peeling.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of manufacturing a medical x-ray data label according to claim 27 wherein the fourth layered peelable shield is transparent to x-rays.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of manufacturing a medical x-ray data label according to claim 25 further comprising: third layering at the first area location upon the card and on top of the blocker material a printable material which is transparent to x-rays and which will visibly display typewriting.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
THe method of manufacturing a medical x-ray data label according to claim 26 further comprising: printing a card with directions for use in a third area location, separate from the first and second area locations upon the same side of the card.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of manufacturing a medical x-ray data label according to claim 26 further comprising: perforating the card so that the first and second area locations may be detached from the remainder of the card.
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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) | 1991-08-16 | 1992-02-15 | 1992-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-16 | 1996-02-15 | 1996-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-16 | 2000-02-15 | 2000-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |