Bruce M Dunham

US Patent:

6385292, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Dec 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/751110

Inventors:

Bruce M. Dunham - Mequon WI
John Scott Price - Wauwatosa WI
Colin R. Wilson - Niskayuna NY
Douglas Snyder - Brookfield WI

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha NY

International Classification:

H01J 3500

US Classification:

378122, 378 9

Abstract:

A solid state x-ray source ( ) for a computed tomograph (CT) imaging system ( ) is presented. X-ray source ( ) has a cathode ( ) which is preferably formed of a plurality of addressable elements. The cathode is positioned within a vacuum chamber ( ) so that electrodes emitted thereby impinge upon anode ( ) spaced apart from cathode ( ). An electron beam ( ) is formed and moved along the length of cathode ( ). The anode ( ) is disposed within a cooling block portion ( ) and operatively adjacent to an x-ray transmissive window ( ). The anode ( ) and x-ray transmissive window ( ) are disposed within an elongated channel ( ) of the cooling block portion ( ).

US Patent:

6741671, May 25, 2004

Filed:

Apr 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/063496

Inventors:

Bruce Matthew Dunham - Mequon WI
John Scott Price - Wauwatosa WI
Carey S. Rogers - Waukasha WI

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

A61B 600

US Classification:

378 4, 378 19, 378 988

Abstract:

An imaging system includes an x-ray source adapted to generate an x-ray flux. The system further includes an array of analogic computer modules, each of which contains an array of detector elements arranged to form âslicesâ as in a CT scanner. The analogic computer modules then process the signals from the detector elements.

US Patent:

6760407, Jul 6, 2004

Filed:

Apr 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/124864

Inventors:

J. Scott Price - Wauwatosa WI
Bruce M. Dunham - Mequon WI
Colin R. Wilson - Niskayuna NY

Assignee:

GE Medical Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

H01L 3506

US Classification:

378122, 378119

Abstract:

An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.

US Patent:

6775352, Aug 10, 2004

Filed:

Aug 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/064784

Inventors:

Thomas Louis Toth - Brookfield WI
Bruce Matthew Dunham - Mequon WI
Kelly Lynn Karau - New Berlin WI
Jianying Li - New Berlin WI

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

H05G 144

US Classification:

378108, 378 16, 378101, 378109, 378207

Abstract:

A method, system and medium for modulating the x-ray power of an imaging system so as to maintain a desired image noise in the imaging system is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes obtaining projection data, correcting the projection data responsive to beam hardening errors so as to create corrected projection data, processing the corrected projection data so as to create a plurality of emitter current values responsive to an imaging method and applying the emitter current values to the imaging system responsive to an object to be imaged. In another aspect, a method for determining an optimum emitter tube voltage for an imaging system includes characterizing the imaging system so as to determine a system water-equivalent path length responsive to a relative noise increase. An object water-equivalent path length is then determined and compared with the system water-equivalent path length so as to create a comparison result, allowing for the recommendation of the optimum emitter tube voltage responsive to the comparison result.

US Patent:

6912268, Jun 28, 2005

Filed:

Jan 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/757177

Inventors:

J. Scott Price - Wauwatosa WI, US
Bruce M. Dunham - Mequon WI, US
Colin R. Wilson - Niskayuna NY, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

H01L035/06

US Classification:

378122, 378136

Abstract:

An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.

US Patent:

6968042, Nov 22, 2005

Filed:

Sep 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/661844

Inventors:

Thomas Louis Toth - Brookfield WI, US
Bruce Matthew Dunham - Mequon WI, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G21K003/00

US Classification:

378156, 378158, 378119

Abstract:

A method of at least partially compensating for an x-ray tube target angle heel effect includes positioning a filter having an anode side and a cathode side between an x-ray source and an x-ray detector, wherein the cathode side has a higher attenuation coefficient than the anode side, to at least partially compensate for the target angle heel effect.

US Patent:

6980623, Dec 27, 2005

Filed:

Oct 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/696343

Inventors:

Bruce Matthew Dunham - Mequon WI, US
John Scott Price - Milwaukee WI, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G21K001/02

US Classification:

378 19, 378136, 378137

Abstract:

A method for adjusting a focal spot position during a scan of a computed tomography (CT) imaging system having a z-axis. The CT imaging system includes a detector array having a plurality of detector elements and an x-ray tube configured to direct an x-ray beam towards the detector through an object to be imaged. The method includes turning on the x-ray tube and reading a z-ratio from the detector. A shift in a position of a focal spot of the x-ray tube is then determined utilizing the read z-ratio. The method further includes using a transfer function to determine a compensating electronic deflection value; and applying the electronic deflection value to the x-ray tube as at least one of a deflection voltage or a deflection current to track the focal spot in the z-axis direction.

US Patent:

7027553, Apr 11, 2006

Filed:

Dec 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/747510

Inventors:

Bruce Matthew Dunham - Mequon WI, US
John Scott Price - Wauwatosa WI, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

A61B 6/03

US Classification:

378 5, 378119, 378 62

Abstract:

A system for generating images by using monochromatic x-rays is described. The system includes an accelerator configured to increase energy of an electron beam, at least one detector element configured to receive x-rays having multiple energies generated by interaction of the electron beam with at least one laser beam, and an image reconstructor configured to reconstruct at least one image by processing the x-rays.