High Schooler builds portable x-ray machine

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The kid did a great job... now the difficult part is getting it approved by the FDA for patient use.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick R
http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2012-04/you-built-what-portable-x-ray-machine

...Kind of makes me depressed. Im' 20 years old and I've never done anything like this. From scratch, with no guide/schematic/blueprint. Smart kid, I hope he patents it. =|


Get used to it, half the planet has 3.5 billion people smarter or who work harder than them...

Or start playing with electronics. I'd always thought there would be an application for a "speaker" inside a muffler to either enhance an exhaust sound building on the the exhaust pulses from the engine. Or just be used as noise cancellation with less restriction than a normal quiet muffler. But I've taken it farther than just thinking about it...
 
Originally Posted By: Nick R
http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2012-04/you-built-what-portable-x-ray-machine

...Kind of makes me depressed. Im' 20 years old and I've never done anything like this. From scratch, with no guide/schematic/blueprint. Smart kid, I hope he patents it. =|



He researched how it works (X-Ray) and thought outside the box (or inside the box in this case, LOL) to make an inexpensive and portable one. I applaud him for his efforts! Obviously a very bright and creative individual.
 
Brilliant. Two thoughts: patent it. Beware of xray exposure. Marie Curie died from radiation poisoning.
 
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Brilliant. Two thoughts: patent it. Beware of xray exposure. Marie Curie died from radiation poisoning.


What's there to patent? He's used pre-existing technologies (Chinese-sourced tubes, Nixie tubes for the display, analog knobs...etc) here. I'm sure much of it isn't very different from the designs of many early X-ray machines. Remember, they used to have cheap ones in shoe stores that could x-ray your feet
grin.gif


And the idea of the portable, battery powered x-ray machine isn't new. Here's a dental one:

http://aribex.com/portable-x-ray-machine/dental-x-ray-machine/nomad-pro/

He made a very affordable one from scratch, using primitive materials (suitcases!) and without following somebody else's directions. That's what makes this impressive. Not that he's designed something revolutionary that he needs to patent immediately before somebody steals the idea.
 
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
If Apple can patent "simplistic look" then this can be patented as well.

Only if he can borrow Apple's patent lawyers for a few days though...
 
It's pretty cool. I wouldn't use it on anything alive though because it doesn't look like a precise dose of x ray and it is likely high power enough to do some damage to living things.

A lot of work in the medical device design is to make it safe, as well as passing regulatory approval (because it must be safe). Remember in the early days when a software glitch in radiation causes over exposure to patients and killing them? You probably don't want that from a home grown design.
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
If Apple can patent "simplistic look" then this can be patented as well.

Only if he can borrow Apple's patent lawyers for a few days though...

He needs to wrap it in a shiny case first though... and marketing it to hipsters wouldn't hurt.
 
Also thank those who supplied the money, parts, place to work, and allowed time for him to pursue this.
And also Nikola Tesla for the first X Ray pictures. [his foot]
 
In Michigan, and most other states, x-ray radiation producing devices need to be registered with the State.

Otherwise an awesome feat by a young individual.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Brilliant. Two thoughts: patent it. Beware of xray exposure. Marie Curie died from radiation poisoning.


What's there to patent? He's used pre-existing technologies (Chinese-sourced tubes, Nixie tubes for the display, analog knobs...etc) here. I'm sure much of it isn't very different from the designs of many early X-ray machines. Remember, they used to have cheap ones in shoe stores that could x-ray your feet
grin.gif


And the idea of the portable, battery powered x-ray machine isn't new. Here's a dental one:

http://aribex.com/portable-x-ray-machine/dental-x-ray-machine/nomad-pro/

He made a very affordable one from scratch, using primitive materials (suitcases!) and without following somebody else's directions. That's what makes this impressive. Not that he's designed something revolutionary that he needs to patent immediately before somebody steals the idea.


Pardon me for not being a patent attorney, as you obviously are.
 
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Brilliant. Two thoughts: patent it. Beware of xray exposure. Marie Curie died from radiation poisoning.


What's there to patent? He's used pre-existing technologies (Chinese-sourced tubes, Nixie tubes for the display, analog knobs...etc) here. I'm sure much of it isn't very different from the designs of many early X-ray machines. Remember, they used to have cheap ones in shoe stores that could x-ray your feet
grin.gif


And the idea of the portable, battery powered x-ray machine isn't new. Here's a dental one:

http://aribex.com/portable-x-ray-machine/dental-x-ray-machine/nomad-pro/

He made a very affordable one from scratch, using primitive materials (suitcases!) and without following somebody else's directions. That's what makes this impressive. Not that he's designed something revolutionary that he needs to patent immediately before somebody steals the idea.


Pardon me for not being a patent attorney, as you obviously are.


My intent was not to be rude, so I apologize if you took it that way. The X-Ray machine is very old, and this design quite primitive, so I have a hard time imagining that any part of it would be different enough from what exists and has existed in terms of X-ray technology and implementation as to warrant a patent.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Brilliant. Two thoughts: patent it. Beware of xray exposure. Marie Curie died from radiation poisoning.


What's there to patent? He's used pre-existing technologies (Chinese-sourced tubes, Nixie tubes for the display, analog knobs...etc) here. I'm sure much of it isn't very different from the designs of many early X-ray machines. Remember, they used to have cheap ones in shoe stores that could x-ray your feet
grin.gif


And the idea of the portable, battery powered x-ray machine isn't new. Here's a dental one:

http://aribex.com/portable-x-ray-machine/dental-x-ray-machine/nomad-pro/

He made a very affordable one from scratch, using primitive materials (suitcases!) and without following somebody else's directions. That's what makes this impressive. Not that he's designed something revolutionary that he needs to patent immediately before somebody steals the idea.


Pardon me for not being a patent attorney, as you obviously are.


My intent was not to be rude, so I apologize if you took it that way. The X-Ray machine is very old, and this design quite primitive, so I have a hard time imagining that any part of it would be different enough from what exists and has existed in terms of X-ray technology and implementation as to warrant a patent.


No sweat, thanks for that.
 
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