Geometric compton scattered x-ray visualizing, imaging, or information providing

• US 20080253526A1
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Weaver, Thomas A., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Lord, Robert W., Boyden, Edward S., Jung, Edward K.Y., Whitmer, Charles, Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Leuthardt, Eric C., Wood, Lowell L., Foster, Glenn B.
• Application Number:
  US12/011,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20080253526A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/87
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4028 resulting in acquisition of views from substantially different positions, e.g. EBCT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/483 involving scattered radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/485 involving fluorescence X-ray imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/505 for diagnosis of bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/512 Intraoral means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/063 inelastic scatter, e.g. Compton effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/612 biological material

Abstract

Certain aspects relate to determining a location that an at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event occurs within an at least some matter of at least a portion of an individual based at least in part on determining a relative angle at which an at least one applied X-ray is being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, determining a relative position from which an at least one applied X-ray is being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual. Certain aspects can include determining a detected location at which at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is detected following scattering at the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event, and determining a received angle at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received following scattering at the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining a location that an at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event occurs within an at least some matter of at least a portion of an individual based at least in part on determining a relative angle at which an at least one applied X-ray is being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, determining a relative position from which an at least one applied X-ray is being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, determining a detected location at which at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is detected following scattering at the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event, and determining a received angle at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received following scattering at the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event occurring within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is applied within at least one substantially Compton scattered X-ray depth range occurs when the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event is situated at an at least one prescribed substantially Compton X-ray scattered depth.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event occurring within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is applied within at least one substantially Compton scattered X-ray depth range occurs when the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event is situated at is applied at least partially between an at least one first prescribed substantially Compton scattered X-ray depth and an at least one second prescribed substantially Compton scattered X-ray depth.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially in response to the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information, which at least partially responsive to determining a density of at least a portion of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at a location coincident with the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one applied X-ray is applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one applied X-ray is applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based upon operational characteristics of an X-ray optical device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one applied X-ray is applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one applied X-ray is applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based upon operational characteristics of an X-ray optical device, and wherein the X-ray optical device is an at least partially transmissive device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one applied X-ray is applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one applied X-ray is applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based upon operational characteristics of an X-ray optical device, and wherein the X-ray optical device is an at least partially reflective device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one applied X-ray is applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one applied X-ray is applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based upon operational characteristics of an X-ray optical device, and wherein the X-ray optical device is an at least partially diffractive device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one applied X-ray is applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one applied X-ray is applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based upon operational characteristics of an X-ray optical device, and wherein the X-ray optical device is an at least partially occluded device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based at least partially upon an at least one operational characteristic of an X-ray optical device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based at least partially upon operational focusing characteristics of an X-ray optical focusing device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based at least partially upon operational transmissive characteristics of an X-ray optical device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based at least partially upon operational reflective characteristics of an X-ray optical device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based at least partially upon operational diffractive characteristics of an X-ray optical device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative angle at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and the relative position at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received from the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is determined in a mutually coordinated manner based at least partially upon operational occluding characteristics of an X-ray optical device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event further comprises:

coapplying a first one of the at least one applied X-ray with a second one of the at least one applied X-ray within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to increase an intensity of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event further comprises:

coapplying a first flux of a first one of the at least one applied X-ray with a second flux of a second flux of the at least one applied X-ray within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to increase an intensity of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event further comprises:

directing multiple ones of the at least one applied X-ray to a Compton X-ray scattering region, within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to increase a Compton X-ray scattering intensity of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event further comprises:

focusing multiple ones of the at least one applied X-ray to a Compton X-ray scattering region to increase a Compton X-ray scattering intensity of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event further comprises:

controlling application of the at least one applied X-ray.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event further comprises:

adjusting application of the at least one applied X-ray.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event further comprises:

directing the at least one applied X-ray towards the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event further comprises:

directing the at least one applied X-ray towards the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual; and

correlating the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at which the at least one applied X-ray is being directed with the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual which is undergoing Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially in response to the determining the location of at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event, and wherein the Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is performed at a rate sufficient to substantially capture a physical motion that is consistent with an individual-based physiological process.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially in response to the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event, and wherein the Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is performed at a rate sufficient to substantially capture a physical motion that is consistent with a user-observable physiological process.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially in response to the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event, and wherein the Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information is at least partially being performed across a slice at least partially across the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially in response to the determining the location of the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event, and wherein the Compton Scattered X-ray visualizing, imaging, or providing information includes processing information relating to the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one applied X-ray is at least partially applied through an external surface at least partially defining the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one applied X-ray is at least partially applied through at least a portion of an at least partially internal surface at least partially defining the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual includes at least some tissue, a bone, bone portion, bone fragment, or tooth, a fluid, a bodily fluid, or a man-made insert.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual includes a metal, a chemical, a dielectric, or an element.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual includes a mechanism configured for carrying, transporting, or maintaining a fluid.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual includes at least one from a group, the group includes a person, an animal, a plant, or an organism.

35. An apparatus, comprising:

a detector portion configured to detect an at least one induced Compton scattering X-ray photon within an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an individual that has scattered from an at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially responsive to the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon from within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual; and

the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider configured to determine a location that the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event occurs within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual based at least in part on determining a relative angle at which an at least one applied X-ray is being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and determining a relative position from which an at least one applied X-ray is being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider configured to determine a detected location at which at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is detected following scattering at the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event, and the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider configured to determine a received angle at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received following scattering at the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the at least one induced X-ray Compton scattered photon has an energy of a voltage range group, the voltage range group includes at least one of greater than or equal to 1 KVolt, greater than or equal to 10 Kvolts, or greater than or equal to 100 KVolts.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein at least a portion of an inducer portion relies at least partially upon energy applied from an energy accumulator.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein at least one operative portion of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider is translatable, tiltable, rotatable, or otherwise displaceable by a human user.

39. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein at least an operative portion of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider is translatable, tiltable, rotatable, or otherwise displaceable by a machine-based user.

40. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the detector portion comprises at least one energy level detector.

41. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the detector portion comprises at least one photodetector.

42. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the detector portion comprises at least one X-ray spectrometer.

43. A system, comprising:

an inducer portion configured to induce at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon at a Compton scattering location within an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an individual responsive to an at least some first input energy being applied into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual;

a detector portion configured to detect the at least one induced Compton scattering X-ray photon that has scattered from an at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event at least partially in response to the inducer portion configured to induce the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon; and

the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider configured to determine a location that the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event occurs within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual based at least in part on determining a relative angle at which an at least one applied X-ray is being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual and determining a relative position from which an at least one applied X-ray is being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider configured to determine a detected location at which at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is detected following scattering at the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event, and the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider configured to determine a received angle at which the at least one induced Compton scattered X-ray photon is received following scattering at the at least one Compton Scattered X-ray event.