Patent · US Expired

Beam hardening filter for x-ray source

US6157703A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
34References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 6, 1998
Grant dateDec 5, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 6, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG21K1/10
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An x-ray beam hardening filter is disclosed. The x-ray beam hardening filter comprises a support member and a beam hardening sheet, the beam hardening sheet having a multidimensional array of regularly spaced apertures. The apertures are configured to have an x-ray transmissive quality. An actuator, engaging the support member, is capable of moving the multidimensional array of apertures into or out of a path of an x-ray beam, thereby selectively introducing varying levels of x-ray energy filtration. In one embodiment, multiple layers of beam hardening sheets are added to the x-ray beam hardening filter to create additional levels of x-ray energy filtration. Advantages of the x-ray beam hardening filter include the relatively small distance the x-ray beam hardening filter must move in order to absorb the incident x-ray beam, the ability to introduce varying levels of x-ray filtration, and the compact structure of the x-ray beam hardening filter.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.