Portable imaging system method and apparatus
First Claim
1. An X-ray imaging device for imaging a sample, wherein the sample is within an X-ray shielded volume comprising:
- a) an X-ray source capable of emitting an X-ray beam within a beam path to illuminate the sample;
b) a source beam shield connected to the X-ray source;
c) an X-ray detector connected to an exit shield shielding an X-ray beam emerging from the sample;
d) a first volume shield defining an elongated generally convex receptacle for receiving a first portion of the sample, and having therein a transverse elongated shielding portion slidably coupled to said source beam shield; and
e) a second volume shield defining an elongated generally convex receptacle for receiving a second portion of the sample, and having therein a transverse elongated shielding portion slidably coupled to said exit shield;
whereby the sample may extend beyond the first and second volume shields, and whereby these shields may be brought into contacting opposition to provide an x-ray shielded volume containing at least a portion of the sample, the emitted x-ray beam and the emerging x-ray beam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An operator shielded X-ray imaging system has sufficiently low mass (less than 300 kg) and is compact enough to enable portability by reducing operator shielding requirements to a minimum shielded volume. The resultant shielded volume may require a relatively small mass of shielding in addition to the already integrally shielded X-ray source, intensifier, and detector. The system is suitable for portable imaging of well cores at remotely located well drilling sites. The system accommodates either small samples, or small cross-sectioned objects of unlimited length. By rotating samples relative to the imaging device, the information required for computer aided tomographic reconstruction may be obtained. By further translating the samples relative to the imaging system, fully three dimensional (3D) tomographic reconstructions may be obtained of samples having arbitrary length.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An X-ray imaging device for imaging a sample, wherein the sample is within an X-ray shielded volume comprising:
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a) an X-ray source capable of emitting an X-ray beam within a beam path to illuminate the sample;
b) a source beam shield connected to the X-ray source;
c) an X-ray detector connected to an exit shield shielding an X-ray beam emerging from the sample;
d) a first volume shield defining an elongated generally convex receptacle for receiving a first portion of the sample, and having therein a transverse elongated shielding portion slidably coupled to said source beam shield; and
e) a second volume shield defining an elongated generally convex receptacle for receiving a second portion of the sample, and having therein a transverse elongated shielding portion slidably coupled to said exit shield;
whereby the sample may extend beyond the first and second volume shields, and whereby these shields may be brought into contacting opposition to provide an x-ray shielded volume containing at least a portion of the sample, the emitted x-ray beam and the emerging x-ray beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An imaging device comprising:
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a) a source of ionizing radiation;
b) a detector of ionizing radiation; and
c) a means for shielding an object to be irradiated by said source of ionizing radiation so as to form an image detected by said detector of ionizing radiation;
wherein said means for shielding limits external exposure of ionizing radiation produced by said source of ionizing radiation to a level at or below 0.5 milliroentgen per hour at any point 5 centimeters outside an external surface of said imaging device; and
wherein said means for shielding has a mass of less than 200 kg. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An X-ray imaging device for imaging a sample contained within an X-ray shielded volume comprising:
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a) an X-ray source;
b) an X-ray imaging detector comprising;
i) an X-ray image intensifier, and ii) an image detector that detects the output of said X-ray image intensifier; and
c) an X-ray shielded volume comprising;
i) a core volume shielded by a left volume shield and a right volume shield separably connected so as to permit insertion and removal of a sample, said core volume having a top opening and a bottom opening, ii) a beam path emitted from said X-ray source within a beam path volume, iii) a shielded telescoping sleeve permitting elongation of said beam path volume, iv) said beam path volume intersecting said core volume;
v) wherein said X-ray source is located at one end of said beam path, and said X-ray imaging detector is located at another end of said beam path so as to image an object placed in said beam path; and
d) wherein said X-ray source is shielded from external radiation by said X-ray shielded volume. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A portable imaging device for imaging a sample contained within a shielded volume comprising:
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a) a penetrative photon source;
b) a penetrative photon imaging detector comprising;
i) a penetrative photon image intensifier, and ii) an penetrative photon image detector that detects the output of said penetrative photon image intensifier; and
c) an penetrative photon shielded volume comprising;
i) a core volume shielded by a left volume shield and a right volume shield separably connected so as to permit insertion and removal of a sample, said core volume having a top opening and a bottom opening, ii) a penetrative photon beam path emitted within a beam path volume, iii) a shielded telescoping sleeve permitting elongation of said beam path volume, iv) said beam path volume intersecting said core volume;
v) wherein said penetrative photon source is located at one end of said beam path, and said penetrative photon imaging detector is located at another end of said beam path so as to image an object placed in said beam path; and
d) wherein said penetrative photon source is substantially shielded from external radiation by said penetrative photon shielded volume.
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29. A portable imaging device for imaging a sample contained within a shielded volume comprising:
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a) means for generating penetrative photons for imaging a sample;
b) means for detecting penetrative photons transmitted through said sample and creating an image; and
c) means for shielding said penetrative photons to a level below 0.5 milliroentgen per hour at any point 5 centimeters outside an external surface of said portable imaging device. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification