Steven J Plummer

US Patent:

7827635, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Aug 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/845199

Inventors:

Zhengyan Wang - N. Canton OH, US
Steven J. Plummer - Hudson OH, US
Jacin C. Barnes - Willowick OH, US
Matthew D. Fleischhauer - Mentor OH, US
Michael G. Ambrosia - Cleveland Heights OH, US
Dennis K. Everett - Seven Hills OH, US
Robert G. Henderson - Wickliffe OH, US

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

A47B 13/00

US Classification:

5601, 5943, 378 20, 378208

Abstract:

A subject loading system is provided for moving a subject disposed in an isolation zone into and out of a diagnostic system disposed outside the isolation zone. A tube extends away from the isolation zone. The tube has an inner volume open to the isolation zone and operatively coupled with the diagnostic system. An elongated subject support pallet is disposed in the isolation zone and dimensioned to fit into the tube. A base including a mechanical drive is disposed in the isolation zone and is configured to align the elongated subject support pallet with the tube and to move the elongated subject support pallet into and out of the tube.

US Patent:

20130256537, Oct 3, 2013

Filed:

Nov 18, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/988347

Inventors:

Thomas Leroy Laurence - North Royalton OH, US
Jinling Liu - Solon OH, US
Steven E. Cooke - Garfield Heights OH, US
Steven John Plummer - Hudson OH, US

Assignee:

KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. - EINDHOVEN

International Classification:

G01T 1/164
G02B 6/10

US Classification:

250362, 250367, 250366, 385146, 29428

Abstract:

When constructing a nuclear detector module in a gantry, a plurality of overlapping light guide modules () are mounted to the gantry in a spaced-apart fashion, and a plurality of underlapping light guide modules () are mounted in between each pair of overlapping light guide modules (). Each of the underlapping modules and the overlapping modules includes a scintillation crystal array () on an interior surface thereof, and a plurality of PMTs on an exterior surface thereof. Overlapping modules () have overlapping structures () that interface with underlapping structures () on the underlapping modules () and thereby eliminate a seam directly beneath PMTs that overlap the crystal arrays of both an overlapping module and an underlapping module. Optical grease is used to form a resilient grease coupling and reduce light scatter between the underlapping and overlapping modules.

US Patent:

56001452, Feb 4, 1997

Filed:

Jan 19, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/374977

Inventors:

Steven J. Plummer - Hudson OH

Assignee:

Picker International, Inc. - Highland Heights OH

International Classification:

G01T 1166

US Classification:

25036304

Abstract:

A SPECT system includes two radiation detector heads (32) and (34) which are mounted opposite each other to a gantry (30) for rotation about a subject. The subject is injected with a source of emission radiation, which emission radiation passes through a collimator (38) mounted on each detector head and is received by a radiation receiving face of the detector heads. A radiation source (40) is disposed between the collimator (38) of one detector head and the face of the one detector head. Transmission radiation from the radiation source (40) passes through the collimator (38), through the subject, and is received by the opposite detector head concurrently with the emission radiation. Alternately, a radiation source (40) is disposed behind the collimator of both detector heads (32, 34) such that both detector heads concurrently receive emission and transmission radiation. The detector heads (32, 34) generate emission and transmission projection data indicative of the received emission and transmission radiation.

US Patent:

58347801, Nov 10, 1998

Filed:

May 29, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/654542

Inventors:

Hugh T. Morgan - Highland Heights OH
Gregory G. Cooley - Chardon OH
Bryce G. Thornton - Concord OH
Steven G. Plummer - Hudson OH

Assignee:

Picker International, Inc. - Highland Heights OH

International Classification:

G01T 1166
G01T 1161

US Classification:

25036304

Abstract:

A gamma camera system includes two or more radiation detector heads and which are mounted opposite each other to a gantry for rotation about a subject. A transmission radiation source assembly is mounted to the front face of at least one of the detectors and can be moved across the face of the detector. The source assembly includes a radiation attenuating housing, a leaded bronze source holder, and a radionuclide source. The radionuclide source is retained in a longitudinal groove disposed in the source holder. The source holder may be rotated into open, closed, and access positions. The transmission radiation emitted by the source assembly is directed across the examination region, attenuated by the subject, and detected by the opposed detector. The gamma camera system also includes a filter which selectively attenuates the transmission radiation based on the attenuation profile of the object so as to prevent saturation of the opposed detector. An image representation is reconstructed using the radiation emitted by the subject and corrected in accordance with the transmitted radiation data.

US Patent:

48884863, Dec 19, 1989

Filed:

Sep 20, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/246675

Inventors:

Steven J. Plummer - Hudson OH
Antoine Ina - Richmond Hts. OH
David L. Tipping - Northford CT
Peter D. Esser - Smithtown NY

Assignee:

Picker International, Inc. - Highland Hts. OH

International Classification:

G01T 1166

US Classification:

25036304

Abstract:

In preparation for a scan, a camera head (B) is positioned (30, 32, 34, 36) about a patient on a patient table (20) to determine the minor axis (54) and major axis (56). Based on a comparison (60) of a difference in the major and minor axes with preselected standards (62a, 62b,. . . ) one of a corresponding plurality of correction factor tables (64a, 64b,. . . ) is selected. During a scan as the camera head is rotated about the patient by an angular position clock (70). The radial distances of the camera head from the scan center are calculated (72, 74, 78) which cause the camera head to follow a generally ellipsoidal path. The size of the ellipse is adjusted (74, 78) in accordance with the major and minor axes. At each of a plurality of angular positions, the enabled correction factor table is addressed by the angular position and a corresponding correction factor is combined (80) with the radius. In this manner, the shape, as well as the size, of the orbit is adjusted.

US Patent:

56388179, Jun 17, 1997

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/483276

Inventors:

Hugh T. Morgan - Highland Heights OH
Roger N. Lexa - Concord Twp. OH
Steven J. Plummer - Hudson OH

Assignee:

Picker International, Inc. - Highland Heights OH

International Classification:

H05G 102

US Classification:

1286531

Abstract:

A SPECT system includes two or more radiation detector heads (32) and (34) which are mounted opposite each other to a gantry (30) for rotation about a subject. Each detector head has a collimator (38) mounted in front of the detector head. The collimator (38) is separated into a top portion (40) and a bottom portion (42). The top portion (40) and bottom portion (42) are spaced from each other to provide a gap (44) within the collimator (38). The gap (44) receives one or more devices to provide additional functionality during a scan. The insertable devices include a transmission radiation source (52), a calibration source, a radiation filter, and others.

US Patent:

55699243, Oct 29, 1996

Filed:

Aug 18, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/292785

Inventors:

Steven J. Plummer - Hudson OH

Assignee:

Picker International, Inc. - Highland Heights OH

International Classification:

G01T 1164
G01T 1166

US Classification:

25036305

Abstract:

A SPECT camera system has two detector heads (16a, 16b) which are movable between position (FIG. 2) and an adjacent, orthogonal position (FIG. 3). The detector heads have slide members (42a, 42b) which are slidably received on linear guide members (40a, 40b) of carriers (16a, 16b). The carriers have followers (20a, 22a, 24a; 20b, 22b, 24b) which are slidably received along linear guide paths (26a, 28a, 30a; 26b; 28b, 30b). Hydraulic or other extensible cylinders (32a, 32b) selectively permit the carriers, hence the detector heads, to slide along the guide paths between the 180. degree. opposite and the adjacent, orthogonal positions. Preferably, a rotating gantry (12) is rotated to place both detector heads above an intended position. In this manner, the extensible cylinders controllably lower the detector heads as they move by gravity from the present position to the intended position. In both the 180. degree.

US Patent:

50971328, Mar 17, 1992

Filed:

Nov 21, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/616985

Inventors:

Steven J. Plummer - Hudson OH

Assignee:

Picker International, Inc. - Highland Hts. OH

International Classification:

H05G 102

US Classification:

25036308

Abstract:

A patient table assembly (10) is fixedly mounted on pedestals (14, 16) with a table top (12) passing through a central aperture (116) of a rotatable inner gantry (110). The inner gantry (110) is rotatably mounted in an outer gantry (80) which selectively moves parallel to the table top along tracks (82). The foot end pedestal (14) has an arm (30) and a flange and contour block arrangement (36) which receives a foot end (40) of the table top fixedly therebetween. A slide (58) clamps the head end of the table top to an arm (50) connected with the second pedestal. A front wheel carriage (90) includes a pair of wheels (98) which are rotatably mounted to a pivot member (92) for limited rotation about the outer gantry (80). Detector heads (112, 114) are mounted to slide members (132, 136,156,158) which slide on guide members (134, 138). A motor (140, 152) and acme screw ( 142, 154) drive one slide along the guide members.