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US 10,481,295 B2Granted
Compact body scanner
AssigneeTek84 Inc.
InventorSteven Winn Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Imaging systems and methods are provided for detecting objects that may be hidden under clothing, ingested, inserted, or otherwise concealed on or in a person's body. An imaging assembly, e.g., X-ray source and X-ray detector, and mechanisms, e.g., a translational mechanism for vertically moving the imaging assembly, may be configured to reduce the overall form factor of such imaging systems, while still retaining an ability to perform full/complete imaging of a subject.
Claims20
An imaging system comprising:
- an X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray beam;
- an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray source, the X-ray detector and the X-ray source being joined by a connecting member such that the X-ray detector and the X-ray source remain in geometric alignment for the X-ray detector to receive the X-ray beam during an imaging process;
- and
- a translational mechanism configured to vertically translate the X-ray source and the X-ray detector during the imaging process, such that the X-ray source is translated within a first vertical path having a first height range and the X-ray detector is translated within a second vertical path having a second height range, wherein the second height range exceeds the first height range, wherein the translational mechanism comprises a first cable and a second cable, the first cable attached to the X-ray detector at a first terminus and a first counterweight device at a second terminus, the second cable attached to the X-ray source at a first terminus and a second counterweight device at a second terminus, and wherein the first cable is threaded on a first pulley and the second cable is threaded on a second pulley.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- receiving a user input via a controller configured to initiate an imaging process;
- establishing geometric alignment between an X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray beam and an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray source, the X-ray detector and the X-ray source being joined by a connecting member such that the X-ray detector and the X-ray source remain in optical alignment for the X-ray detector to receive the X-ray beam during the imaging process;
- and
- vertically translating the X-ray source using a first linear actuator configured to effectuate vertical translation via a first cable independently from a second linear actuator configured to effectuate vertical translation of the X-ray detector via a second cable, wherein the first cable is attached to the X-ray source at a first terminus and a first counterweight device at a second terminus;
- and
- vertically translating the X-ray detector using the second linear actuator configured to effectuate vertical translation via the second cable independently from the first linear actuator configured to effectuate vertical translation of the X-ray source via the second cable, such that the X-ray source is translated within a first vertical path having a first height range and the X-ray detector is translated within a second vertical path having a second height range, wherein the second height range exceeds the first height range.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.