Selective elemental color providing for X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing

• US 20090086903A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC A Limited Liability Corporation of, State of Delaware
• 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, Wood, Lowell L. JR., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Application Number:
  US11/906,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20090086903A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4021 involving movement of the focal spot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/482 involving multiple energy imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/485 involving fluorescence X-ray imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/50 specially adapted for specific body parts; specially adapted for specific clinical applications
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/501 for diagnosis of the head, e.g. neuroimaging or craniography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/503 for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• 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 6/51 for dentistry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/076 X-ray fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/223 by irradiating the sample with X-rays or gamma-rays and by measuring X-ray fluorescence

Abstract

One aspect relates to selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing of an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an individual that at least partially indicates an at least one differentiatable element composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays a first at least one differentiatable element composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially responsive to a first single input energy event based at least partially on an at least some first input energy being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, and the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays a second at least one differentiatable element composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual that is interpretable distinctly from the first at least one differentiatable element composition.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing of an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an individual that at least partially indicates an at least one differentiatable element composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays a first at least one differentiatable element composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially responsive to a first single input energy event based at least partially on an at least some first input energy being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, and the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays a second at least one differentiatable element composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual that is interpretable distinctly from the first at least one differentiatable element composition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first at least one differentiatable element composition includes an element composition in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first at least one differentiatable element composition includes a chemical composition in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first at least one differentiatable element composition includes a compound composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing of the first at least one differentiatable element composition is based at least partially on at least one displayed color.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing of the first at least one differentiatable element composition is based at least partially on at least one displayed text.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing of the first at least one differentiatable element composition is based at least partially on at least one displayed graphics.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is at least partially responsive to an at least some flooding-type input energy.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is at least partially responsive to an at least some narrow-beam type input energy.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is at least partially responsive to an at least some pulse-type input energy.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is at least partially responsive to an at least some continual-type input energy.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an energy level of an at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle used to perform the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is performed on a position-by-position basis within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is performed based at least partially on an application of at least some applied high energy photon and/or particle, wherein the applied high energy photon and/or particle includes at least some energy from an at least some energy group, the at least some energy group includes at least some X-rays, at least some gamma rays, at least some electrons, or at least some ions.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing occurs at least partially through to a prescribed fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing occurs at least partially through at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to within a range of fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing depths within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one individual includes at least one from a group of individuals, the group of individuals includes an at least one human, an at least one animal, an at least one organism, and/or an at least one plant.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially includes a group of matter, the group of matter includes at least one from at least one tissue, at least one bodily fluid or component thereof, at least one blood or blood component, at least a portion of a bone, at least a boney portion, or at least one bone portion or bone fragment, at least a tooth or a portion thereof, and/or an at least one implant.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is performed with an applied energy of greater than or equal to an energy group, the energy group includes at least one from 1 KVolt, 10 Kvolts, or 100 KVolt.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is at least partially performed in response to an at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing comprises anatomically selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing comprises functionally selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is performed at a rate sufficient to substantially capture a physical motion that is consistent with an individual-based physiological process.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is performed at a rate sufficient to substantially capture a physical motion that is consistent with a user-observable physiological process.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is utilized by a machine-based user.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing is utilized by a human user.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

a selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion configured to selective X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information of an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an individual that at least partially to indicate a first at least one differentiatable element composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays the first at least one differentiatable element composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially responsive to a first single input energy event based at least partially on an at least some first input energy being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, and the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays a second at least one differentiatable element composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual that is interpretable distinctly from the first at least one differentiatable element composition.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first at least one differentiatable element composition includes a composition of at least one elements in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first at least one differentiatable element composition includes a composition of at least one chemical in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first at least one differentiatable element composition includes a composition of at least one matter in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising the second at least one differentiatable element composition of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual undergoing a second selective X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays the first at least one differentiatable element composition at least partially based on a first color.

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays the first at least one differentiatable element composition at least partially based on a first color and the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays the second at least one differentiatable element composition at least partially based on a second color.

34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays the first at least one differentiatable element composition at least partially based on a first color and the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing selectively displays the second at least one differentiatable element composition at least partially based on a second color, and wherein when both the first color and the second color being presented together yield a third color which can be a mix of the colors, a textural alteration, or yield a whole new color.

35. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion relies at least partially upon energy applied from an energy accumulator.

36. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion includes an X-ray based emissive structure.

37. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion provides at least one flooding source.

38. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion provides at least one narrow-beam source.

39. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion provides at least one relatively wide-beam source.

40. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion includes an electron emissive structure.

41. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion includes an ion emissive structure.

42. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein an at least one operative portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion is translatable, tiltable, rotatable, or otherwise displaceable by a human user.

43. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein an at least an operative portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion is translatable, tiltable, rotatable, or otherwise displaceable by a machine-based user.

44. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least an operative characteristic of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion is controllable.

45. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein an intensity of an at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle applied by a high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion is controllable.

46. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein a timing of an at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle applied by a high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion is controllable.

47. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein an energy of an at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle applied by a high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion is controllable.

48. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion identifies a time of emission of at least some input energy to be applied to a target atom from the known transmission location.

49. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion identifies a direction of emission of at least some input energy to be applied to a target atom from the known transmission location.

50. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion identifies a velocity of emission of at least some input energy to be applied to a target atom from the known transmission location

51. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion identifies an energy of emission of at least some input energy to be applied to a target atom from the known transmission location.

52. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion identifies a time of reception at a fluorescence X-ray receiving portion.

53. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion identifies a direction of reception at a fluorescence X-ray receiving portion.

54. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion identifies an energy of reception at a fluorescence X-ray receiving portion.

55. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion includes an X-ray fluorescence photon receiving portion.

56. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion includes an X-ray fluorescence photon receiving portion that comprises at least one energy level detector.

57. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion includes an X-ray fluorescence photon receiving portion that comprises at least one photodetector.

58. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the selective X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing portion includes an X-ray fluorescence photon receiving portion that comprises at least one X-ray spectrometer.