James A Wear

US Patent:

7145986, Dec 5, 2006

Filed:

May 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/838893

Inventors:

James A. Wear - Madison WI, US
Robert A. Washenko - Madison WI, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H05G 1/64
G01N 23/087
G01T 1/24

US Classification:

378 988, 378 53, 378 989, 25037009, 25037013

Abstract:

A monolithic detector uses a grid to block x-rays from inter-pixel regions such as are believed to cause electrical noise in the pixel signals.

US Patent:

7196332, Mar 27, 2007

Filed:

May 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/838892

Inventors:

James A. Wear - Madison WI, US
Robert A. Washenko - Madison WI, US
Randall K. Payne - Madison WI, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01T 1/24
H01L 27/146

US Classification:

25037001, 25037012, 25037013

Abstract:

A monolithic solid-state detector using a staggered arrangement of pixels in multiple rows improves spatial resolution without requiring reduction in pixel size. Parallelogram shapes of CZT monolith allow tiling in one dimension without inefficient zones between monoliths. A scanning device using linear array of detectors with non-rectangular shape and staggered rows of detection elements such that no dead zones occur within a scan field.

US Patent:

7227150, Jun 5, 2007

Filed:

May 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/838891

Inventors:

James A. Wear - Madison WI, US

Assignee:

General Electric Co. - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01T 1/24

US Classification:

25037001

Abstract:

Steering electrodes are used to improve the uniformity and efficiency of solid-state semiconductor x-ray detectors. The steering electrodes are insulated from the semiconductor material so as to prevent surface current flows that degrade the signal to noise ratio of the detected signal. A simple fabrication technique employing photolithographic techniques may be employed.

US Patent:

8165266, Apr 24, 2012

Filed:

Sep 10, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/557314

Inventors:

James Wear - Madison WI, US
David Ergun - Verona WI, US
Robert Washenko - Madison WI, US
Michael Bucholz - Oregon WI, US
Darrell Gorsuch - Pardeeville WI, US
Randall Payne - Madison WI, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

G01N 23/06

US Classification:

378 55, 378 988, 25037013

Abstract:

A scanning bone densitometer includes an x-ray source to produce x-rays and an x-ray detector receiving x-rays emitted from the x-ray source. The x-ray detector includes a cadmium tellurium (CdTe) semiconductor. The scanning bone densitometer also includes a controller moving the x-ray source and the x-ray detector along a transverse scanning path to acquire a plurality of scan images of an object of interest.

US Patent:

8300911, Oct 30, 2012

Filed:

Sep 10, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/557285

Inventors:

Randall Payne - Madison WI, US
David Ergun - Verona WI, US
James Wear - Madison WI, US
Wynn Wacker - Madison WI, US
Howard Barden - Madison WI, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382128, 128922

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for measuring visceral fat mass are provided. One method includes acquiring dual-energy two-dimensional (2D) scan information from a dual-energy x-ray scan of a body and generating a dual-energy image of the body using the 2D scan information. The method further includes identifying a region of interest using the dual-energy image and determining a subcutaneous fat mass for each of a plurality of sections of the region of interest. The method also includes determining a visceral fat mass for the region of interest based on the determined subcutaneous fat mass for each of the plurality of sections.

US Patent:

8483458, Jul 9, 2013

Filed:

Dec 31, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/982952

Inventors:

Randall K. Payne - Madison WI, US
David Ergun - Verona WI, US
James A. Wear - Madison WI, US
Wynn K. Wacker - Madison WI, US
Howard S. Barden - Madison WI, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382128, 128922, 378 4

Abstract:

Methods and system for measuring visceral fat mass are provided. One method includes acquiring dual-energy two-dimensional (2D) scan information from a dual-energy X-ray scan of a body and generating a dual-energy X-ray image of the body using the 2D scan information. The method further includes identifying a region of interest using the dual-energy X-ray image and determining a subcutaneous fat mass for each of a plurality of sections of the region of interest. The method also includes determining a visceral fat mass for the region of interest based on the determined subcutaneous fat mass for each of the plurality of sections.

US Patent:

20140061482, Mar 6, 2014

Filed:

Sep 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/605082

Inventors:

James A. Wear - Madison WI, US
Sergei Dolinsky - Clifton Park NY, US
Ravindra Mohan Manjeshwar - Glenville NY, US

Assignee:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01T 1/20

US Classification:

250362, 250368

Abstract:

A wavelength shifting material is optically coupled to one of a scintillator and a solid-state photomultiplier and transmits photons along and about a straight linear path. The wavelength shifting material enhances photon sensing performance of the solid state photomultiplier.

US Patent:

20140064446, Mar 6, 2014

Filed:

Sep 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/605493

Inventors:

James A. Wear - Madison WI, US
Sergei Dolinsky - Clifton Park NY, US
Randall Payne - Madison WI, US
Ravindra Mohan Manjeshwar - Glenville NY, US

Assignee:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01T 1/20
G01N 23/04

US Classification:

378 62, 250367, 250366

Abstract:

An x-ray absorptiometry apparatus and method utilize a radiation source having a beam opening angle of less than or equal to 30 milliradians in at least one dimension, an array of scintillator units to receive radiation from the radiation source with the beam angle after the radiation has passed through a body being imaged and at least one solid-state photomultiplier to receive photons from the array of scintillator units and to produce electrical signal based on the photons. In one implementation, an optical area transmission passage modifier is employed in a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry system. In one implementation, the array of scintillator units are arranged in staggered rows. In yet another implementation, the solid-state photomultiplier includes a plurality of solid-state photomultipliers arranged in rows. In one implementation, a single solid-state photomultiplier receive photons from a plurality of scintillators of the array.