X-Ray Fluorescence Visualizer Time of Flight Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging technologies are limited in their ability to provide detailed elemental and chemical information within the body, particularly in remote or resource-constrained areas, and often require expensive and complex equipment, making them inaccessible to many regions for routine medical applications.
Innovation Solution
The development of an X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider that uses X-rays to visualize, image, or provide information based on elemental composition without the need for X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents, allowing for the detection of elements, chemicals, and biological materials within the body, and can be configured for portability and affordability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional medical imaging technologies are used, then detailed elemental and chemical information can be obtained, but the equipment becomes expensive and complex, reducing accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes only the essential X-ray fluorescence detection capability from complex conventional imaging systems, eliminating the need for expensive enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents while maintaining elemental detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service detection by using the body's own elemental composition as the signal source, eliminating the need for external contrast agents or enhancing additives that would otherwise be required in conventional imaging
2Measurement precision
If conventional medical imaging technologies are used, then detailed elemental and chemical information can be obtained, but the equipment becomes expensive, reducing accessibility to remote areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive, readily available components such as standard X-ray tubes, photomultiplier tubes, and computational algorithms that can be implemented on off-the-shelf computers, replacing expensive specialized equipment with affordable, disposable-like components
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical imaging systems with a computational approach that processes X-ray fluorescence signals through algorithms, substituting expensive hardware with software-based processing that can run on standard computers
3Ease of manufacture
If X-ray fluorescence imaging without enhancing additives is used, then costs are reduced and accessibility improved, but the ability to detect elements may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces computational algorithms as an intermediary that enhances the detection capability by processing and analyzing the X-ray fluorescence signals, allowing element detection without requiring physical enhancing additives or contrast agents
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameter from relying on enhanced signal intensity (requiring contrast agents) to detecting characteristic fluorescence emission patterns, enabling element identification through spectral analysis of the body's natural elemental composition
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This technology enables rich, polychromatic imaging that can differentiate various elements and compounds, enhancing diagnostic capabilities, reducing costs, and making advanced medical imaging more accessible to remote or resource-limited areas, while minimizing radiation exposure and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
an X-ray tube configured to generate a beam of X-ray photons
Implementation Method 2
Certain aspects of this disclosure can relate to, but are not limited to, a variety of embodiment of a variety of embodiments of an X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect can relate to determining a total time of flight that indicates an at least one applied duration and an at least one induced duration, wherein the at least one applied duration describes the time for an at least some pulse-type input energy to be applied from a transmission location to an at least one X-ray fluorescing event in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual, and wherein the at least one induced duration describes the time for an at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon, to travel from the at least one X-ray fluorescing event in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual to a location where the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon is received at least partially by a detecting the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon. The aspect can relate to determining a location information of the at least one X-ray fluorescing event in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual based at least partially on the total time of flight.