Patent US2341923A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5404387A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Body scanning system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1993-11-15
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Granted: 1995-04-04
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Expires: 2013-11-15
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns a method and apparatus for scanning bodies, typically human bodies (12) for security or medical purposes. In the method, the body (12) is scanned with a beam (20) of X-radiation of sufficiently low intensity that no physiological damage is suffered. The X-radiation transmitted by the body (12) is then converted into an optical image. The optical image is intensified and converted into an electronic image. The electronic image is manipulated to produce a scanned image of the body or a portion of the body. The scanned image is typically a video image.
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Hammond
- 👤 Michael W. N. Singer
- 👤 Rudolf W. Glatthaar
- 👤 Gerhard Laniewski
- 👤 Sudhir N. Surujhlal
- 👤 Forrester D. De Beer
- 👤 Pieter G. Roos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V5/00; G01V5/20; G01V5/22; G06; G06F; G06F17/00; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/12; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/04; G01N23/043; A61B6/42; A61B6/4208; A61B6/4225; G01N2223/00; G01N2223/40; G01N2223/413; G01N2223/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of scanning a body, the method comprising the steps of producing a collimated beam of X-radiation by transmitting a beam of X-radiation through a collimator which includes a stack of spaced apart, parallel plates, scanning the body with the collimated beam of X-radiation by causing relative linear movement between the body and the X-ray source to take place in a direction transverse to the plates of the collimator, converting X-radiation transmitted by the body into an optical image, intensifying the optical image, converting the optical image into an electronic image and manipulating the electronic image to produce a scanned image of the body or a portion thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of scanning a body, the method comprising the steps of producing a collimated beam of X-radiation by transmitting a beam of X-radiation through a collimator which includes a stack of spaced apart, parallel plates, scanning the body with the collimated beam of X-radiation by causing relative linear movement between the body and the X-ray source to take place in a direction transverse to the plates of the collimator, converting X-radiation transmitted by the body into an optical image, intensifying the optical image, converting the optical image into an electronic image and manipulating the electronic image to produce a scanned image of the body or a portion thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the intensified optical image is converted to a digital electronic image using CCD array detectors operated in drift scanning mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the digital electronic image is manipulated to produce a visual image of the body or portion thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the transmitted X-radiation is converted to an optical image by scintillator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the optical image is intensified by an optical image intensifier in combination with one or more fibre-optic tapers used to convey the optical image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein a first series of fibre-optic tapers is used to convey an optical image from the scintillator means to an optical image intensifier which intensifies the image, and a second series of fibre-optic tapers conveys the intensified optical image to a corresponding series of CCD array detectors, operated in drift scanning mode, for conversion to an electronic image, the first and second series of fibre-optic tapers serving also to demagnify the image which they convey.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein an X-ray source and imaging apparatus are located in opposition to one another on opposite sides of a scanning station, the X-ray source and imaging apparatus are supported by a carrier which is caused to move relative to a stationary body, and the source of X-radiation is caused to emit a fanned beam of X-radiation which is collimated in the direction of relative movement of the carrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the body is a human body and the carrier is caused to move vertically relative to a standing, stationary human body at the scanning station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the X-ray beam has a sufficiently low intensity for the human body to absorb an equivalent dose of 10×10 -6 sievert or less.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the body is caused to move between a stationary X-ray source and opposing imaging apparatus.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for scanning a body, the apparatus comprising an X-ray source for scanning the body with a beam of X-radiation, a collimator which includes a stack of spaced apart, parallel plates for collimating the beam of X-radiation, means for causing relative linear movement, in a direction transverse to the plates of the collimator, between the body which is to be scanned and the X-ray source, and imaging apparatus which includes means for converting X-radiation transmitted by the body into an optical image, means for intensifying the optical image, means for converting the intensified optical image into an electronic image and means for manipulating the electronic image to produce a scanned image of the body or a portion thereof.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for scanning a body, the apparatus comprising an X-ray source for scanning the body with a beam of X-radiation, a collimator which includes a stack of spaced apart, parallel plates for collimating the beam of X-radiation, means for causing relative linear movement, in a direction transverse to the plates of the collimator, between the body which is to be scanned and the X-ray source, and imaging apparatus which includes means for converting X-radiation transmitted by the body into an optical image, means for intensifying the optical image, means for converting the intensified optical image into an electronic image and means for manipulating the electronic image to produce a scanned image of the body or a portion thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 comprising CCD array detectors, operated in drift scanning mode, to convert the intensified optical image to a digital electronic image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 comprising means for producing a scanned video image of the body or a portion thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 comprising scintillator means to convert the transmitted X-radiation to an optical image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 comprising an optical image intensifier in combination with one or more fibre-optic tapers, used to convey the optical image, to intensify the optical image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 comprising a first series of fibre-optic tapers to convey an optical image from the scintillator means to an optical image intensifier which intensifies the image, and a second series of fibre-optic tapers conveys the intensified optical image to a corresponding series of CCD array detectors, operated in drift scanning mode, for conversion to an electronic image, the first and second series of fibre-optic tapers serving also to demagnify the image which they convey.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 comprising an X-ray source and imaging apparatus which are located in opposition to one another on opposite sides of a scanning station, a carrier supporting the X-ray source and imaging apparatus, and means for causing the carrier to move relative to a stationary body at the scanning station with the source of X-radiation emitting a fanned beam of X-radiation which is collimated in the direction of relative movement of the carrier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 comprising an X-ray source in the form of a line-focus X-ray tube orientated in the direction of movement of the carrier relative to the body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 when used to scan a human body, the carrier being movable vertically relative to a human body standing at the scanning station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the beam of X-radiation has a sufficiently low intensity for the human body to absorb an equivalent dose of 10×10 -6 sievert or less.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 comprising a stationary X-ray course and opposing imaging apparatus, and means for moving the body between the X-ray source and imaging apparatus.
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