Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information provider using image combining

• US 20080253627A1
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC A Limited Liability Corporation of, State of Delaware
• Inventors: Wood, Victoria Y. H., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Weaver, Thomas A., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Lord, Robert W., Boyden, Edward S., Whitmer, Charles, Jung, Edward K. Y., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Leuthardt, Eric C., Wood, Lowell L.
• Application Number:
  US11/786,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20080253627A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• 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 6/482 involving multiple energy imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/483 involving scattered radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/505 for diagnosis of bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/506 for diagnosis of nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/507 for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/508 for non-human patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/512 Intraoral means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

One aspect relates to deriving at least one first visualization, image, or provided information via Compton scattering substantially within an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an individual at least partially as a result of directing an at least one first applied X-ray having an at least one first energy level towards the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual; deriving at least one second visualization, image, or provided information via Compton scattering substantially within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially as a result of directing an at least one second applied X-ray having an at least one second energy level toward the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual; and deriving at least one combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information at least partially by combining the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information with the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

deriving at least one first visualization, image, or provided information via Compton scattering substantially within an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an individual at least partially as a result of directing an at least one first applied X-ray having an at least one first energy level towards the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual;

deriving at least one second visualization, image, or provided information via Compton scattering substantially within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially as a result of directing an at least one second applied X-ray having an at least one second energy level toward the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual; and

deriving at least one combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information at least partially by combining the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information with the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the at least one combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information includes combining at least some additional information in addition to the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information or the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing the at least one first applied X-ray along a coincident path as the at least one second applied X-ray.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deriving at least one third visualization, image, or provided information via Compton scattering substantially within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially as a result of directing an at least one third applied X-ray having an at least one third energy level toward the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual; and

deriving at least one second-combined visualization, second-combined image, or second-combined provided information at least partially by combining the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information with the at least one third visualization, image, or provided information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first energy level is unequal to the at least one second energy level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the at least one combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information at least partially by combining the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information with the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information includes a subtraction of the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information from the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the at least one combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information at least partially by combining the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information with the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information includes a weighted subtraction of the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information from the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the at least one combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information at least partially by combining the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information with the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information includes a functional subtraction of the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information from the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the at least one combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information at least partially by combining the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information with the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information includes at least one of a group of operations relating the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information with respect to the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information, wherein the group of operations includes an inverse integral transform, a subtractive inverse integral transform, an inverse functional transform, or a subtractive inverse functional transform.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information via the Compton scattering substantially within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is performed at least partially within an at least one substantial scattered depth range to at least one prescribed substantial scattered depth.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information via the Compton scattering substantially within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual is performed at least partially in response to a determining a location of a scattering event.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information via the Compton scattering substantially within 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.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information via the Compton scattering substantially within 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.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first applied X-ray having the at least one first energy level is at least partially derived by intersecting one or more of the at least one first applied X-ray.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information comprises:

deriving a combined-slice visualization, combined-slice imaging, or providing combined-slice information.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information comprises:

deconvolving information relating to the at least one scattered X-ray.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information comprises:

transforming information relating to the at least one scattered X-ray.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information comprises:

filtering information relating to the at least one scattered X-ray.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the deriving the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information comprises:

collimating the at least one scattered X-ray.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information is at least partially derived in response to the at least one first applied X-ray through at least a portion of an at least partially external surface of the individual.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information is at least partially derived in response to the at least one first applied X-ray through at least a portion of an at least partially internal surface of the individual.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual includes at least one from a matter group, the matter group includes at least one of an at least one tissue, an at least one bone, an at least one bone portion, an at least one bone fragment, or an at least one tooth, an at least one bodily fluid, an at least one blood or a component thereof, an at least one naturally-occurring fluid vessel capable of carrying or maintaining an at least one bodily fluid, an at least one man-made fluid vessel capable of carrying or maintaining an at least one bodily fluid.

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

23-27. -27. (canceled)

29. An apparatus, comprising:

an at least a first portion of a Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive a first visualization, image, or providing information at least partially as a result of an at least a first portion of one emitter portion directing at least one first applied X-ray having an at least one first energy level towards the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual;

an at least a second portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive a second visualization, image, or provided information at least partially as a result of an at least a portion of an at least a second portion of the one emitter portion directing at least one second applied X-ray having an at least one second energy level towards the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual; and

an at least a third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive a combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information at the first prescribed depth through the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual with the second visualization, image, or provided information at the second prescribed depth through the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least a third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the at least one combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information includes combining at least some additional information in addition to the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information or the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to directing the at least one first applied X-ray along a coincident path as the at least one second applied X-ray.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

an at least a fourth portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the at least one third visualization, image, or provided information via Compton scattering substantially within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially as a result of directing an at least one third applied X-ray having an at least one third energy level toward the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual; and

an at least a fifth portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive at least one second-combined visualization, second-combined image, or second-combined provided information at least partially by combining the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information with the at least one third visualization, image, or provided information.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least one first energy level is unequal to the at least one second energy level.

34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information with the second visualization, image, or provided information comprises:

the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by a subtraction of the first visualization, image, or provided information from the second visualization, image, or provided information.

35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information with the second visualization, image, or provided information comprises:

the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by a weighted subtraction of the first visualization, image, or provided information from the second visualization, image, or provided information.

36. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information with the second visualization, image, or provided information comprises:

the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by a functional subtraction of the first visualization, image, or provided information from the second visualization, image, or provided information.

37. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information with the second visualization, image, or provided information comprises:

the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by the combining of the first visualization, image, or provided information from the second visualization, image, or provided information in a manner characterized by at least one of a group of operations, the group of operations includes an inverse integral transform, a subtractive inverse integral transform, an inverse functional transform, or a subtractive inverse functional transform.

38. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the first portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is configured to derive the first visualization, image, or provided information at least partially as a result of the at least the first portion of the one emitter portion directing the at least one first applied X-ray at least partially within an at least one substantial scattered depth range to at least one prescribed substantial scattered depth.

39. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the second portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is configured to derive the second visualization, image, or provided information at least partially as a result of the at least the second portion of the one emitter portion directing the at least one second applied X-ray at least partially within an at least one substantial scattered depth range to at least one prescribed substantial scattered depth.

40. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the first portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is configured to derive the first visualization, image, or provided information at least partially within an at least one visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth range to at least one prescribed visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth.

41. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the second portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is configured to derive the second visualization, image, or provided information at least partially within an at least one visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth range to at least one prescribed visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth.

42. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially within an at least one visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth range to at least one prescribed visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth.

43. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially in response to a determining a location of a scattering event.

44. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is at least partially operationally common with the at least the second portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly.

45. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is at least partially operationally common with the at least the first portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly.

46. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the first portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is at least partially operationally common with, the at least the second portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly.

47. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information at least partially by combining at least an additional visualization, an additional imaging, or providing additional information at least partially from an additional imaging modality.

48. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the first portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is configured to derive the first visualization, image, or provided information at least partially by intersecting one or more of the at least one first applied X-ray.

49. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the first portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly is configured to derive the first visualization, image, or provided information at least partially by at least partially derived by intersecting one or more of the at least one first applied X-ray with one or more of the at least one second applied X-ray.

50. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information comprises:

the at least a third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive a combined slice-based visualization, combined slice-based imaging, or providing combined slice-based information.

51. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information comprises:

the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to configured to deconvolute information relating to the at least one scattered X-ray.

52. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information comprises:

the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to configured to transform information relating to the at least one scattered X-ray.

53. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information comprises:

the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to configured to filter information relating to the at least one scattered X-ray.

54. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information comprises:

the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to configured to collimate the at least one scattered X-ray being scattered from one or more of the at least one applied X-ray.

55. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information at least partially through at least a portion of an at least partially external surface of the individual.

56. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information at least partially through at least a portion of an at least partially internal surface of the individual.

57. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual includes at least one from a matter group, the matter group includes at least one of an at least one tissue, an at least one bone, an at least one bone portion, an at least one bone fragment, or an at least one tooth, an at least one bodily fluid, an at least one blood or a component thereof, an at least one naturally-occurring fluid vessel capable of carrying or maintaining an at least one bodily fluid, a at least one man-made fluid vessel capable of carrying or maintaining an at least one bodily fluid.

63. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the individual includes at least one from a group, the group including a human, an animal, an organism, or a plant.

58-62. -62. (canceled)

64. An apparatus, comprising:

a first Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means for deriving at least one first visualization, image, or provided information to be Compton scattered substantially within an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an individual at least partially as a result of directing an at least one first applied X-ray having an at least one first energy level towards the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual;

a second Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means for deriving at least one second visualization, image, or provided information to be Compton scattered substantially within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially as a result of directing an at least one second applied X-ray having an at least one second energy level toward the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual; and

a third Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means for deriving an at least one combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information at least partially by combining the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information at least partially from the a first Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means with the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information at least partially from the second Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the third Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means for deriving the at least one combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information includes combining at least some additional information in addition to the at least one first visualization, image, or provided information or the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising the first Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means and the second Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means configured for directing the at least one first applied X-ray along a coincident path as the at least one second applied X-ray.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising:

a fourth Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means for deriving the at least one third visualization, image, or provided information via Compton scattering substantially within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially as a result of directing an at least one third applied X-ray having an at least one third energy level toward the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual; and

a fifth Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means for deriving at least one second-combined visualization, second-combined image, or second-combined provided information at least partially by combining the at least one second visualization, image, or provided information with the at least one third visualization, image, or provided information.

68. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the at least one first energy level is unequal to the at least one second energy level.

69. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information with the second visualization image, or provided information comprises:

the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by a subtraction of the first visualization, image, or provided information from the second visualization, image, or provided information.

70. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information with the second visualization, image, or provided information comprises:

the at least the third portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by a weighted subtraction of the first visualization, image, or provided information from the second visualization, image, or provided information.

71. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the at least the third Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information with the second visualization, image, or provided information comprises:

the at least the third Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by a subtraction of the first visualization, image, or provided information from the second visualization, image, or provided information.

72. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the at least the third Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information with the second visualization, image, or provided information comprises:

the at least the third Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by a weighted subtraction of the first visualization, image, or provided information from the second visualization, image, or provided information.

73. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the at least the third Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information with the second visualization, image, or provided information comprises:

the at least the third Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by a functional subtraction of the first visualization, image, or provided information from the second visualization, image, or provided information.

74. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the at least the third Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by combining the first visualization, image, or provided information with the second visualization, image, or provided information comprises:

the at least the third Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider means configured to derive the combined visualization, combined image, or combined provided information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by the combining of the first visualization, image, or provided information from the second visualization, image, or provided information in a manner characterized by at least one of a group of operations, the group of operations includes an inverse integral transform, a subtractive inverse integral transform, an inverse functional transform, or a subtractive inverse functional transform.