Secondary X-ray imaging technique for diagnosing a health condition

• US 7,643,609 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrea Loren Clay
• Original Assignee: Andrea Clay
• Inventors: Clay, Haile Selassie
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US11/619,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 378/44, 378/45, 378/46, 378/119
• US Class Current: 378/45
• 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

A beam of electronic charges and a standing wave laser beam are generated. The beam of charges is collided with the standing wave laser beam at a substantial angle to generate a burst cone of high energy x-rays. The x-ray cone is split, collimated and steered to a collapse point of diagnosis within a patient'"'"'s body. A selected volume of the patient'"'"'s body is scanned for diagnosis by directing subsequent burst cones at an array of points within the volume. The fluorescence spectra are detected from each of the points resulting from the high energy x-ray scanning. A chart is generated distinguishing fluorescence spectra emitted from various points within the volume.

Claims

1. A method of generating high energy x-rays, comprising:

(a) generating a beam of electronic charges;

(b) generating a standing wave laser beam;

(c) colliding the beam of charges with the standing wave laser beam, including intersecting the standing wave laser beam and beam of charges to generate a burst cone of high energy x-rays;

(d) detecting fluorescence spectra from interactions of the high energy x-rays with a patient'"'"'s body to determine tissue properties;

(e) generating a 3-D graphic which differentiates tissues having differing fluorescence characteristics; and

(f) repeating the detecting to obtain temporal information (4-D).

2. A method of rendering a chart of a selected volume of a patient'"'"'s body on a digital rendering device, display or printer, or combinations thereof, distinguishing fluorescence spectra from various points within the volume emitted as a result of interaction with high energy x-rays, the method comprising:

(a) generating a beam of electronic charges;

(b) generating a standing wave laser beam;

(c) colliding the beam of charges with the standing wave laser beam, including intersecting the standing wave laser beam and beam of charges to generate a burst cone of high energy x-rays;

(d) detecting fluorescence spectra resulting from interactions of the high energy x-rays with a patient'"'"'s body which provide information regarding tissue properties;

(e) generating 3-D graphic which differentiates tissues having differing fluorescence characteristics;

rendering the 3-D graphic at a digital rendering device, display or printer, or combinations thereof; and

(g) analyzing the fluorescence spectra to determine tissue properties.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising repeating the detecting to obtain temporal information (4-D).

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said detecting is performed without rotating the patient relative to the propagation direction of the burst cones.

5. A system for generating high energy x-rays, comprising:

an electron source for generating an electron beam; and

a set of one or more lasers for generating a standing wave laser beam disposed in a path of the electron beam, wherein burst cones of secondary x-rays are generated from collisions between the electron beam and the standing wave laser beam;

a computer for analyzing fluorescence spectra from interactions of the high enemy x-rays with a patient'"'"'s body to determine tissue properties; and

computer readable programming code for generating a 3-D graphic formed from said interactions of the high energy x-rays with the patient'"'"'s body.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the electron source comprises a synchrotron radiation machine.