IP Library Granted Patent US 12,251,248
Granted Patent B2
US 12,251,248 · App. 17/868,967 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Scanner and method of image reconstruction

Inventors: Thomas R. Mackie (Verona, WI); John Hayes (Madison, WI); Brent Harper (New Glarus, WI)
Assignee: LEO CANCER CARE, INC.
A61B6/035A61B6/4035A61B6/4266A61B6/4447A61B6/4452A61B6/482A61B6/5205G06T11/005G06T11/006A61B6/4078G06T2211/408G06T2211/416G06T2211/424
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,251,248
App. No.
17/868,967
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided herein is technology relating to radiology and radiotherapy and particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatuses, methods, and systems for multi-axis medical imaging of patients in vertical and horizontal positions with single or dual energy acquisition.

Claims (48)

1. A computerized tomography (CT) scanner comprising:

a source defining an imaging plane; and

a filter including a first filter portion including a first material, a second filter portion including a second material, and a third filter portion including the first material and the second material;

wherein the third filter portion includes alternating columns of the first material and the second material, wherein each column intersects the imaging plane; and

wherein the filter is movable with respect to the source to align any one of the first filter portion, the second filter portion, and the third filter portion with the imaging plane.

2. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the first material attenuates an X-ray spectrum a first amount; and wherein the second material attenuates the X-ray spectrum a second amount, different than the first amount.

3. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the first material has a first mass attenuation coefficient within a range of 0.1 cm 2 /g to 200 cm 2 /g corresponding to an excitation within a range of 10 to 200 kV p , and the second material has a second mass attenuation coefficient corresponding to the excitation different than the first mass attenuation coefficient.

4. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the first material is gold, and wherein the second material is molybdenum.

5. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the first material is gold, and wherein the second material is tin.

6. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the third filter portion is positioned between the first filter portion and the second filter portion.

7. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the filter defines a radius.

8. The scanner of claim 1 , further including a filter adjustment assembly with a motor, a frame, and a linkage coupled between the motor and the frame, wherein the filter is coupled to the frame.

9. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the first filter portion at least partially overlaps the third filter portion, and the second filter portion at least partially overlaps the third filter portion.

10. A computerized tomography (CT) scanner comprising:

a source defining an imaging plane; and

a filter including a first filter portion including a first material, a second filter portion including a second material, and a third filter portion including the first material and the second material;

wherein the first material has a first mass attenuation coefficient within a range of 0.1 cm 2 /g to 200 cm 2 /g corresponding to an excitation within a range of 10 to 200 kV p , and the second material has a second mass attenuation coefficient corresponding to the excitation different than the first mass attenuation coefficient; and

wherein the filter is movable with respect to the source to align any one of the first filter portion, the second filter portion, and the third filter portion with the imaging plane.

11. The scanner of claim 10 , wherein the first material is gold, and wherein the second material is molybdenum or tin.

12. The scanner of claim 10 , wherein the third filter portion is positioned between the first filter portion and the second filter portion.

13. The scanner of claim 10 , wherein the first filter portion at least partially overlaps the third filter portion, and the second filter portion at least partially overlaps the third filter portion.

14. A computerized tomography (CT) scanner comprising:

a source defining an imaging plane; and

a filter including a first filter portion including a first material, a second filter portion including a second material, and a third filter portion including the first material and the second material;

wherein the first material is gold, and wherein the second material is molybdenum; and

wherein the filter is movable with respect to the source to align any one of the first filter portion, the second filter portion, and the third filter portion with the imaging plane.

15. The scanner of claim 14 , wherein the third filter portion is positioned between the first filter portion and the second filter portion.

16. The scanner of claim 14 , wherein the first filter portion at least partially overlaps the third filter portion, and the second filter portion at least partially overlaps the third filter portion.

17. A computerized tomography (CT) scanner comprising:

a source defining an imaging plane; and

a filter including a first filter portion including a first material, a second filter portion including a second material, and a third filter portion including the first material and the second material;

wherein the first material is gold, and wherein the second material is tin; and

wherein the filter is movable with respect to the source to align any one of the first filter portion, the second filter portion, and the third filter portion with the imaging plane.

18. The scanner of claim 17 , wherein the third filter portion is positioned between the first filter portion and the second filter portion.

19. The scanner of claim 17 , wherein the first filter portion at least partially overlaps the third filter portion, and the second filter portion at least partially overlaps the third filter portion.

20. A computerized tomography (CT) scanner comprising:

a source defining an imaging plane; and

a filter including a first filter portion including a first material, a second filter portion including a second material, and a third filter portion including the first material and the second material;

wherein the third filter portion is positioned between the first filter portion and the second filter portion; and

wherein the filter is movable with respect to the source to align any one of the first filter portion, the second filter portion, and the third filter portion with the imaging plane.

21. The scanner of claim 20 , wherein the third filter portion includes alternating columns of the first material and the second material, wherein each column intersects the imaging plane.

22. The scanner of claim 21 , wherein the first material is gold, and wherein the second material is molybdenum or tin.

23. A computerized tomography (CT) scanner comprising:

a source defining an imaging plane; and

a filter including a first filter portion including a first material, a second filter portion including a second material, and a third filter portion including the first material and the second material;

wherein the first filter portion at least partially overlaps the third filter portion, and the second filter portion at least partially overlaps the third filter portion; and

wherein the filter is movable with respect to the source to align any one of the first filter portion, the second filter portion, and the third filter portion with the imaging plane.

24. The scanner of claim 21 , wherein the first material is gold, and wherein the second material is molybdenum or tin.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2025
From: CENTAUR HEALTH HOLDINGS, INC.; ASTO CT, INC.; LEO CANCER CARE, INC.
To: ANKURA TRUST COMPANY, LLC AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072897/0064 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: MACKIE, THOMAS R.; HAYES, JOHN; HARPER, BRENT
To: ASTO CT, INC.
Reel/Frame 060873/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: CENTAUR HEALTH HOLDINGS, INC.
To: LEO CANCER CARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 060873/0354 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: ASTO CT, INC.
To: CENTAUR HEALTH HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061310/0816 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63244496 · Sep 15, 2021
Provisional Application 63224460 · Jul 22, 2021
Related Publication 20230038970A1 · Feb 9, 2023
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