Aspects of compton scattered X-RAY visualization, imaging, or information providing

• US 20090296887A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, 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, Wood, Lowell L. JR., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Leuthardt, Eric C., Foster, Glenn B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/87
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/161 Applications in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting apparatus for radiation diagnosis A61B6/00

Abstract

One aspect relates to visualizing, imaging, or providing information at least partially through at least some matter of an at least a portion of an individual, based at least in part on Compton scattering to at least partially form scattered X-rays, the Compton scattering occurring primarily in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, wherein the visualizing, imaging, or providing information is at least partially performed by converting the scattered X-rays into an at least one scintillated viewable and/or visible light that is detectable by a user. Another aspect relates to Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an at least one individual to allow the at least one individual and/or an untrained assistant to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual based at least partially on Compton scattered X-rays.

Claims

1-61. -61. (canceled)

62. A method, comprising:

Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an individual to allow a user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through an X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual with X-ray photons that operates using at least a portion of at least one Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider with an at least one portable electric-power source.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one portable electric-power source includes being remote from an at least one primary power source.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one portable electric-power source includes at least one battery.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one portable electric-power source includes at least one capacitor.

66. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one portable electric-power source includes at least one vehicular power source.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one portable electric-power source includes at least one home-based power source.

68. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one portable electric-power source includes at least one generator.

69. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one portable electric-power source includes at least one fuel cell.

70. The method of claim 62, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information is performed where at least one of the at least one individual spends considerable time with a likelihood of injury or illness.

71. The method of claim 62, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to allow the user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through through the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual comprises:

Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to allow the user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially using a geometric derivation of X-ray photon travel during scattering event technique.

72. The method of claim 62, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to allow a user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual comprises:

Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to allow the user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through through the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially using an X-ray photon energy level loss during scattering event techniques.

73. The method of claim 62, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to allow a user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through through the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual comprises:

Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to allow the user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially using an image combination or subtraction techniques.

74. The method of claim 62, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to allow a user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual comprises:

Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to allow the user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially using a time of flight technique.

75. The method of claim 62, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to allow a user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual comprises:

Compton scattered X-ray based visualizing, imaging, or providing information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual to allow the user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information through the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual at least partially using a scintillator technique.

76. An apparatus, comprising:

a Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider configured to allow an at least one individual and/or an untrained assistant to visualize, image, or provide information of an at least some matter of an at least a portion of the at least one individual using X-ray photons based at least partially on Compton X-ray scattering.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider configured to allow the at least one individual and/or the untrained assistant to visualize, image, or provide information of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual using X-ray photons based at least partially on Compton X-ray scattering comprises:

the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider configured to allow the at least one individual and/or the untrained assistant to visualize, image, or provide information over a X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing depth range to a prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providing depth into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

78. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the at least one individual includes a human.

79. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the based at least partially on Compton scattered X-ray comprises based at least partially on an energy level change of at least one X-ray photon undergoing a scattering event.

80. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the based at least partially on Compton scattered X-ray comprises based at least partially on a direction of travel change of at least one X-ray photon undergoing a scattering event.

81. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the based at least partially on Compton scattered X-ray comprises based at least partially on a scintillator that outputs viewable and/or visible light to a human.

82. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the based at least partially on Compton scattered X-ray comprises based at least partially on a scintillator that outputs viewable and/or visible light to a machine.

83. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the based at least partially on Compton scattered X-ray comprises based at least partially on a time of flight detection.

84. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the based at least partially on Compton scattered X-ray comprises based at least partially on an image combination or subtraction.

85. An apparatus, comprising:

A Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider configured to Compton scattered X-ray based visualize, image, or provide information into an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an at least one individual to allow a user to at least partially visualize, image, or provide information into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual with X-ray photons at least partially using a portable electric-power source.

86. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual includes:

X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing depth range to a prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providing depth into the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual.

87. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the portable electric-power source includes being remote from at least one primary power source.

88. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the portable electric-power source includes at least one battery.

89. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the portable electric-power source includes at least one capacitor.

90. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the portable electric-power source includes at least one vehicular power source.

91. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the portable electric-power source includes at least one home-based power source.

92. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the portable electric-power source includes at least one generator.

93. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the portable electric-power source includes at least one fuel cell.

94. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray is based at least partially on an energy level change of at least one X-ray photon undergoing a scattering event.

95. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray is based at least partially on a direction of travel change of at least one X-ray photon undergoing a scattering event.

96. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray is based at least partially on a scintillator.

97. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray is based at least partially on a time of flight detection.

98. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray is based at least partially on an image combination or subtraction.

99. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the at least one individual includes a group, the group including at least one from a human, an animal, a plant, or an organism.

100. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider is applied in a war zone.

101. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider is applied in a medical office.

102. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider is applied in a vehicle.

103. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider is applied in a home.

104. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider is applied in an office.

105. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the user includes at least one human user.

106. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the user includes at least one machine-based user.