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Advanced Metal-filling Technology for Enhanced X-Ray Imaging in Medical Diagnostics
Patent Number: 10,889,908
Problem
Traditional metal-filling methods often leave gaps or uneven surfaces in small features, especially when trying to fill deep or curved shapes. These flaws can weaken the final product or reduce its performance. The invention solves this by using a special chemical mix that guides the metal to grow evenly and completely. This is especially important for making high-tech devices that need perfect shapes and surfaces. It also avoids the use of harmful chemicals like cyanide, making the process safer.
Invention
These invention comprises special chemical solutions and methods for filling tiny grooves or shapes in materials with metals like gold. The methods ensure the metal fills the space evenly from the bottom up, which is hard to do with regular techniques and leads to smoother, more accurate results.
Potential Commercial Applications
Medical Imaging Potential: the invention enhances standard X-rays with phase contrast and dark-field imaging, revealing soft tissue and fine details that regular X-rays miss. It makes affordable X-ray machines more competitive with CT scanners, particularly in dental, orthopedic, and portable imaging applications. This breakthrough could greatly improve diagnostics in mammography, lung scans, and early cancer detection.
Other key applications include microchips, optical sensors, flexible electronics, and aerospace & defense.
Competitive Advantage
- Premium Product Value: enables precise microstructures with high-value metals, such as gold, thereby boosting pricing in advanced industries.
- Lower Costs & Waste: efficient metal use and chemical-free processing reduce expenses and environmental impact.
- Broader Market Access: supports entry into fast-growing sectors, such as aerospace, clean-tech, and flexible electronics.
- Faster Production: scalable, reliable manufacturing shortens development cycles and speeds up delivery.