The X-ray high-voltage device is provided with a transformer, an inverter for converting a direct current voltage into an alternating current voltage, a rectification circuit for smoothing the alternating current voltage and supplying a direct current voltage to an X-ray tube, a control unit for controlling the inverter, and a resonance circuit whereof the constitution includes the transformer. The frequency of the alternating current voltage applied to the rectification circuit is set to be (natural number + 1) times the frequency at which the inverter is driven by setting the resonance circuit in such a way that the frequency of the resonance current that is supplied from the inverter to the resonance circuit is (natural number + 1) times the frequency at which the inverter is driven.
The present invention estimates and corrects changes in X-ray radiation quality arising from small design tolerances, etc. for substances between the X-ray source and detection elements. As a result, reduction in the ability to distinguish substances by the dual energy imaging method is prevented. The X-ray image pickup apparatus (100) is provided with an inherent filtration-calculating unit (223) for calculating the deviation from a reference radiation quality as a transmission distance (inherent filtration) of a specific reference substance using measurement data for air (without a subject) taken at two or more different tube voltages. The inherent filtration-calculating unit calculates the reference substance transmission distance (inherent filtration) for each detection element by applying reference substance transmission distance conversion using the dual energy imaging method to the measured data. When imaging the subject, images in which changes in radiation quality have been corrected are obtained by performing dual energy imaging that takes the calculated inherent filtration for each detection element into account.
G01N 23/04 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
3.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND TEMPERATURE INFORMATION MEASUREMENT METHOD
Provided is a technique for improving in vivo temperature measurement accuracy in temperature measurement using MRS/MRSI. A cerebrospinal fluid suppression sequence for suppressing the nuclear magnetic resonance signal from cerebrospinal fluid without affecting the nuclear magnetic resonance signal from a desired metabolite is performed prior to the signal measurement sequence for measuring the respective nuclear magnetic resonance signals for water and the metabolite. From the nuclear magnetic resonance signals for water and the metabolite thereby obtained in which the nuclear magnetic resonance signal from cerebrospinal fluid has been suppressed, spectra are obtained. By fitting the spectral peaks obtained to a model function, the resonance frequencies of the water and the metabolite are obtained and temperature is calculated using the difference thereof.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
4.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD
The purpose of the present invention is to obtain high quality images even when measuring with radial sampling. For said purpose, a pre-measurement is performed. Of the echo signal shifts, only the component that differs for each individual blade is extracted and the shift in the k-space of the echo signal due to said component is reflected in reconstruction processing. For the pre-measurement, readout gradient magnetic field pulses in which only the polarity has been changed positively or negatively are applied with a pulse form that is the same as the readout gradient magnetic field pulse used in the image acquisition sequence and the respective echo signals are acquired. Using the change in the phase difference between the two echo signals as the shift, the respective shifts for the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis of the MRI apparatus are obtained.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
5.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING PARAMETER DETERMINATION METHOD
Provided is an MRI device using a transmission coil having a plurality of channels, wherein safety and image quality are obtained at the same time. In the present invention, a SAR distribution is computed, and an imaging parameter is determined for optimizing high-frequency magnetic field distribution of an imaging region while keeping the maximum value of the SAR equal to or less than a threshold value set in advance. The determined imaging parameter includes a high-frequency magnetic field parameter for specifying a high-frequency pulse transmitted from each of a plurality of channels. The SAR distribution is computed using a database for retaining an electric field distribution of each of the plurality of channels for each subject model retained in advance.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
6.
X-RAY IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING X-RAY FLUOROSCOPIC IMAGE
In order to provide a technique with which it is possible to arrange, during fluoroscopy, an annotation that moves so as to follow an image, and with which it is possible to use the information of the annotation even during surgery or clinical training, this x-ray imaging device is provided with: an x-ray source; an x-ray detector arranged in opposition to the x-ray source; an image generation unit that generates an x-ray image on the basis of x-rays detected by the x-ray detector; a display unit that displays the x-ray image generated by the image generation unit; and a position recognition unit that recognizes the position of the x-ray detector or the position of a subject with respect to the x-ray detector. The image generation unit includes an annotation addition unit that arranges a predetermined annotation in the x-ray image. The annotation addition unit updates the position of the annotation to be superposed on the x-ray image on the basis of the position of the x-ray detector or the position of the subject as recognized by the position recognition unit.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a high spatial resolution CT image or a CPR image with no deterioration due to interpolation by photographing a site of interest of a subject while constantly moving the site of interest of the subject toward the center of photography. When photographing while rotating a rotating disk wherein a radiation source and a radiation detector are positioned in opposition to each other and while moving a subject in a body axis direction of the subject which is a direction which intersects the rotation direction, either a platform whereupon the subject is mounted is moved in a direction which is orthogonal to the body axis direction of the subject or an angle of a scanner is changed. In image reconstruction, the image reconstruction is carried out using either movement information of the platform during photography (movement information in the direction which is orthogonal to the body axis direction) or the angle information of the scanner.
In order to provide a technique for reducing system noise from output signal values (measurement data), there is provided an X-ray CT device having an X-ray generation unit for X-ray irradiation of a subject under test, an X-ray detection unit for detecting X-rays that have passed through the subject under test, a correction process unit for correcting the output signal of the X-ray detection unit, and a reconstruction computation unit for reconstructing an image from the output of the correction process unit, wherein the X-ray detection unit includes arrayed detection elements; and the correction process unit, while maintaining the average value of output signal values of a prescribed plurality of detection elements centered on a detection element of interest from among the detection elements, reduces dispersion of the output signal values of the prescribed plurality of detection elements centered on the detection element of interest.
In order to provide a simply configured X-ray CT device in which the standby time until X-ray irradiation is permissible is reduced without detection of positive electrode rotation frequency, a control unit (23) selects a rated positive-electrode rotation frequency from amongst a plurality of types thereof in response to X-ray irradiation conditions, and supplies a drive current, which implements the selected rated positive-electrode rotation frequency, from a starter circuit (10) to a stator coil (81). The control unit (23) acquires the time required to arrive at an irradiation-enabling rotation frequency, which is less than the rated positive-electrode rotation, that is necessary for X-ray irradiation under the X-ray irradiation conditions. If the arrival time has passed, X-ray irradiation is permitted. Thus, X-ray irradiation can be initiated at the minimum permissible positive-electrode rotation frequency in response to the X-ray irradiation conditions, and the standby time, during which a user waits before a positive electrode rotation frequency has been reached, can be reduced.
A first grounding capacitor on a device side and a second grounding capacitor on a power source side within a noise filter are connected by the same filter ground plate, and when the filter ground plate is grounded on the second grounding capacitor side to a device casing body, a portion of noise current which flows through the first grounding capacitor to the filter ground plate leaks through the second grounding capacitor to a power source supply unit. In the present invention, a noise filter comprising a plurality of grounding capacitors has separate grounding capacitor grounds (filter casing body grounds) for each grounding capacitor, and the respective filter casing body grounds are connected to device casing body grounds.
The present invention provides a technique that makes it possible to adjust resonance frequency without sacrificing test space in a high-frequency coil of a of a tunnel-type MRI apparatus. The present invention provides a high-frequency coil of a tunnel-type MRI apparatus that forms a resonant loop for determining the resonance frequency of the high-frequency coil from a high-frequency shield and a coil pattern, the tunnel-type MRI apparatus being equipped with a cylindrical high-frequency shield, a coil pattern placed on a cylindrical virtual plane having the same central axis as the high-frequency shield, and a frequency adjustment unit. The frequency adjustment unit is placed between the high-frequency shield and the coil pattern so as to be able to adjust the coupling capacitance therebetween, thereby making it possible to adjust the resonance frequency of the resonant loop.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
G01R 33/34 - Constructional details, e.g. resonators
The noise of a CT image is accurately reduced using noise information determined from the CT image. The present invention has an iterative-approximation reconstruction unit that reconstructs a CT image in a reconstruction range of an object on the basis of measured projection data obtained by the X-ray detection unit of an X-ray apparatus, and iteratively corrects the CT image so that calculated projection data determined by forward projection using calculation of the CT image and the measured projection data detected by the X-ray detection unit are equal. The iterative-approximation reconstruction unit is provided with a noise measurement unit for calculating the noise intensity of the CT image in at least a prescribed region of interest, and iteratively corrects the CT image in the region of interest using the calculated noise intensity.
In order to provide an X-ray CT device and an image reconstruction method which are capable of improving spatial resolution of the entire effective field of view without loss of rotational speed in an FFS method which improves spatial resolution by moving an X-ray focal position to multiple positions to acquire projection data, the X-ray focal position in an X-ray tube device (101) is shifted to acquire focal point shift projection data (FFS projection data), a virtual view generation unit (126) up-samples the FFS projection data in a viewing direction (generation of a virtual view), and in a reconstruction calculation process of an image, a reconstruction calculation unit (127) reconstructs the image using actual data of the FFS projection data in a center region (604) which is closer to the center of the image than a prescribed boundary and using the up-sampled projection data in a peripheral region (603) which is outside the boundary.
The purpose of the present invention is: to manage medical images stored in a medium; to reduce the total size of DICOMDIR files, i.e. management files, stored in the medium along with the medical images; and to improve responsiveness during data reading/writing. Accordingly, the present invention extracts regularities from management files of medical-image groups stored in a medium, and compresses the management files on the basis of the extracted regularities. More specifically, the present invention is characterized by being provided with: a medium input/output unit which stores medical images in the medium; a selection unit which receives a selection of a plurality of medical images stored in the medium; a management-file generation unit which generates a management file for managing the selected plurality of medical images; a regularity extraction unit which extracts a regularity from the management file; and a compression unit which compresses the management file on the basis of the regularity, and stores said management file in the medium.
G16H 10/60 - ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
G06F 12/00 - Accessing, addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures
15.
HIGH-VOLTAGE GENERATION DEVICE AND X-RAY GENERATION DEVICE
Increasingly miniaturizing a Cockcroft-Walton high-voltage generation device carries the risk of discharges from connection points between components, i.e. insufficient insulation reliability. This Cockcroft-Walton circuit (1) comprises series-connected capacitors (2a-1 through 2a-4 and 2b-1 through 2b-4), each of which has end electrodes (22) at both ends. One capacitor (2a-1) and a capacitor (2a-2) adjacent thereto in series are electrically connected at a connection point (7a-1). Said connection point (7a-1) is positioned so as not to protrude outside a first space (9) between the end electrodes (22) on said capacitors (2a-1 and 2a-2). Said connection point (7a-1) is also electrically connected to the anode of one diode (3a-1) and the cathode of another diode (3b-1).
H05G 1/20 - Power supply arrangements for feeding the X-ray tube with pulse trains
H02M 7/10 - Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal by static converters using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode arranged for operation in series, e.g. for multiplication of voltage
16.
SHIMMING ASSISTANCE UNIT, SHIMMING ASSISTANCE METHOD, MRI APPARATUS AND MAGNET APPARATUS
The shimming work assistance unit performs singular value decomposition of a response matrix, which represents the relationship between an error magnetic field distribution and an adjusted magnetic moment placement distribution. From the multiple eigenmodes obtained, the eigenmodes are selected and added one by one in order from the eigenmode with the highest eigenvalue, and the residual magnetic field error, which represents the fluctuation range of the difference between the magnetic field distribution, generated by the placement of the shimming magnetic moments corresponding to said eigenmode, and the error magnetic field distribution, is displayed on a display unit as a function of eigenmode order (line graph (1)).
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
H01F 7/20 - Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets without armatures
H01F 41/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or assembling magnets, inductances or transformers; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing materials characterised by their magnetic properties
17.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD
Provided is a technique for use in MRI to efficiently minimize downstream blood in a specific area in a blood vessel having slow flow speed, such as the portal vein. To accomplish this, during an interval extending from application of an IR pulse to initiation of imaging proper, a plurality of Beam Sat pulses are applied such that a signal of blood inflowing to a desired imaging area from a desired blood vessel is suppressed just enough. The conditions for applying the Beam Sat pulses to accomplish this are selected on the basis of the flow speed of blood within the desired blood vessel, and the T1 of the blood in question, whereby downstream blood in a specific area in a blood vessel having slow flow speed, such as the portal vein, can be efficiently minimized.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
18.
RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGE GENERATING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD
An objective of the present invention is to better reduce noise in an x-ray fluoroscopic image. Provided is a radiographic image generating device which: receives an input of a plurality of images with different image capture times for an x-ray fluoroscopic image which is image captured using x-rays; uses a temporally prior image and a temporally later image among the inputted plurality of images to perform motion detection and detect one instance of movement information in one image; computes for each local region a difference between the temporally prior image when positionally offset by the movement information amount and the temporally later image; determines, on the basis of the difference for each local region, a region for carrying out a time direction noise reduction process and a region for carrying out a space direction noise reduction process; sets three kinds of regions, regions wherein the time direction noise reduction process is carried out and the space direction noise reduction process is not carried out, regions wherein the space direction noise reduction process is carried out and the time direction noise reduction process is not carried out, and regions wherein both the time direction noise reduction process and the space direction noise reduction process are carried out; and carries out the noise reduction processes differing by each respective region.
Provided is a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus capable of computing the rate of electromagnetic wave absorption in a subject with high accuracy. For said purpose, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is provided with: a computing means for computing the rate of electromagnetic wave absorption in a subject that results from irradiating a RF pulse at an intended image pickup region in the subject or at a bed position; a means for setting image pickup conditions so that the computed absorption rate satisfies the conditions for the prescribed electromagnetic wave absorption rate by means of the relationship between the computed absorption rate and the prescribed electromagnetic wave absorption rate; a bed control device for controlling the tabletop according to the established image pickup conditions; a magnetic field-generating means for generating a magnetic field for MRI image pickup in the space accommodating the subject; a RF pulse-generating means for generating a RF pulse to be irradiated on the subject according to the established image pickup conditions; and a means for detecting the NMR signal generated by the subject and converting the detected NMR signal to an image.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
20.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME
In order to provide a magnetic resonance imaging device that does not use liquid helium and that can stably operate a superconducting magnet operating in driven mode, the present invention is, at a power source unit that supplies current to a superconducting coil, provided with a control unit that controls the current supplied to the superconducting coil on the basis of at least one unit of information among the power supply state from the outside to the power source unit, the operating state of a refrigerator, the temperature of the superconducting coil, the magnetostatic field strength, the current value flowing to the superconducting coil, and the nuclear magnetic resonance signal detected by a detector.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
G01R 33/381 - Systems for generation, homogenisation or stabilisation of the main or gradient magnetic field using electromagnets
In order to improve image quality while reducing the SAR regardless of imaging conditions such as slice position, phase encoding amount and difference in RF pulse type, this VERSE method determines the compression rate of the VERSE pulse depending on the imaging conditions. To this end, this magnetic resonance imaging device is provided with an imaging sequence generating unit for generating an imaging sequence by applying the imaging conditions to a preset pulse sequence, and an imaging unit which performs measurements in accordance with the imaging sequence and reconstructs an image from the acquired echo signal. The pulse sequence includes a VERSE pulse which comprises a high-frequency magnetic field pulse and a slice selection gradient magnetic field pulse, and the imaging sequence generating unit is provided with a VERSE pulse design unit which determines the compression rate of the VERSE pulse depending on prescribed imaging conditions and applies the determined compression rate when generating the imaging sequence.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
This magnet device (2) is provided with a pair of generally disk-shaped magnetic poles (4U) situated in opposition, and a yoke (3) which is C-shaped or U-shaped in side view and which is situated with either end of the C-shape or U-shape situated in proximity to the magnetic poles (4U). The yoke (3) has a yoke-side opposing portion (15U) in proximity to and opposing the magnetic poles (4U), the yoke-side opposing portion (15U) having a center strip area (15b) that includes part of a vertical symmetric plane (α) of the yoke (3), and side strip areas (15c) situated to either side of the center strip area (15b), further away from the vertical symmetric plane (α). At a height (W3) of the yoke-side opposing portion (15U) with respect to a yoke-side opposing surface (15a) which is situated in proximity and opposing the magnetic poles (4U), the center strip area (15c, W3b) is taller than the side strip areas (15c, W3c). The height (W3) of the yoke-side opposing portion (15U) with respect to the yoke-side opposing surface (15a) decreases in weakly monotonic fashion further away from the vertical symmetric plane (α), and the maximum value and minimum value thereof differ.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
G01R 33/381 - Systems for generation, homogenisation or stabilisation of the main or gradient magnetic field using electromagnets
To provide an X-ray CT device and an imaging method which can handle movements having periodic variations and reduce radiation exposure while maintaining image quality, an image processing device (40) of an X-ray CT device (1) acquires, prior to imaging, electrocardiac information of a subject and distribution of the heart rate (movement period). Additionally, the frequency of each heart rate is calculated. Then, an X-ray modulation curve is calculated such that an X-ray dose is at a high level at a specific phase time in a most frequent movement period (most frequent heart rate) and the X-ray dose corresponds to the frequency at the specific phase time in each movement period other than the most frequent movement period. Specifically, the X-ray dose is modulated such that when the heart rate is lower than the most frequent heart rate the X-ray dose corresponds to the rate of the frequency at a finish time of the specific phase time. Further, the X-ray dose is modulated such that when the heart rate is higher than the most frequent heart rate the X-ray dose corresponds to the rate of the frequency at a start time of the specific phase time.
The present invention is capable of distinguishing four types or more of substances such as air, water (soft tissues), contrast medium, and bones (calcification) to diagnose progress of atherosclerotic sites using dual energy imaging. A subject is imaged with two types of different tube voltages and an image obtained by image reconstruction is binarized to carry out a reprojection process; thereby, the distance of penetration of air is estimated, the contribution of air in measurement projection data is determined, and the amount of reduction by the air is deducted from the projection data so as to enable distinction between four or more substances such as air, water (soft tissues), contrast medium, and bones (calcification).
In order to provide an X-ray imaging device which is capable of reducing storage capacity for storing radiographic sequential images, an X-ray imaging device (5) according to the present invention comprises: an X-ray irradiation unit (110) which irradiates a subject (1) with X-rays; an image generation unit (124) which detects the X-rays passed through the subject (1) and generates an image on the basis of the detected X-rays; an operational unit (246) for moving an imaging position of the subject (1); a control unit (330) which detects movement of the imaging position of the subject (1) and generates a compression control signal (332); an image compression unit (222) which carries out a compression process on the image according to the compression control signal (332); and a storage unit (230) which stores the compression processed image.
In order to provide an X-ray CT device and an imaging method which are capable of efficiently imaging a cadaver, a mode of death is selected by a mouse click operation or touch operation on any one of buttons (72-78) on a death mode selection screen (7) and input to a CPU (401) of an image processing device (40). The CPU (401) obtains imaging conditions from a storage unit (53) according to the input mode of death. For example, in a charred body mode, imaging conditions are defined in advance for high definition imaging of the pelvis region to estimate sex and for standard imaging of the whole body other than the pelvis region. In a sex estimation process, the cadaver's sex is estimated on the basis of the shape of the pelvis region and the result is output. In a drowned body mode, imaging conditions are defined in advance for high definition imaging of the lung field to measure the amount of water in the lungs and for standard imaging of the whole body other than the lung field. With an image diagnosis, the amount of water in the lungs can be measured without dissecting the same and as the water in the lungs is not spilled, the amount of water can be measured accurately.
A magnetic resonance imaging device (1) comprising: at least a pair of superconducting main coils (21) which are disposed in a manner so as to have the same central axis (2) as one another, and to be in plane symmetry in relation to the equatorial plane (4) that is orthogonal to the central axis (2); at least a pair of shield coils (22) which are disposed coaxially with the superconducting main coils (21), at the outer sides of the superconducting main coils (21), at the opposite side thereof to the equatorial plane (4), and in plane symmetry in relation to the equatorial plane (4), and generate magnetic fields of the reverse direction to the superconducting main coils (21); a pair of annular first magnetic bodies (31) which are disposed at the inner sides of the superconducting main coils (21) in the radial direction, and in plane symmetry in relation to the equatorial plane (4); and a second magnetic body (32) which is a protrusion provided to the outer peripheral side of an end surface (311) at the opposite side of the first magnetic bodies (31) to the equatorial plane (4). Thus, the uniform magnetic field performance of an image capture space is improved without reducing the degree of opening, and without causing the cost of the device to increase due to an increase in superconducting wires.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
The purpose of the present invention is to provide technology for reducing deterioration of image quality due to phase differences between scan trajectories (blades) in measurement using a non-orthogonal sampling method. For said purpose, during image reconstruction, the present invention performs a correction that reduces phase differences between multiple scan trajectories (blades) measured using a non-orthogonal sampling method. For example, the reduction of phase differences is performed using a method, which: causes the phases at the intersection points of the blades to coincide; causes the phases of all of the blades, at the position where the shift in the frequency direction has been added, to coincide; or cancels the calculated phase change for each blade.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
G01R 33/54 - Signal processing systems, e.g. using pulse sequences
29.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE DIAGNOSIS DEVICE, IMAGE ANALYSIS DEVICE, AND MRI IMAGE CREATION METHOD AND PROGRAM
SCHOOL JURIDICAL PERSON KITASATO INSTITUTE (Japan)
HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATION (Japan)
Inventor
Itatani, Keiichi
Miyaji, Kagami
Miyazaki, Shohei
Takahashi, Tetsuhiko
Abstract
An MRI wherein a blood flow parameter is presented to a user in a manner suitable for diagnosis of a disease and the user is assisted so that the user can easily ascertain a correlation between blood flow and the disease. An MRI device, wherein images of desired imaging regions of a subject are taken using different imaging methods and a plurality of images having different properties are obtained. The plurality of images include a form image and a blood flow vector image in which blood flow velocity vector values are used as pixel values. Each imaging method is executed so as to minimize positional misalignment between the plurality of images. Post-processing is performed on the blood flow vector image and the form image, and a blood flow parameter image indicating energy loss and other parameters is obtained. The obtained blood flow parameter image is then superposed on an image having information relating to a form or function of the region and displayed to the user.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
The present invention obtains high quality tomosynthesis images in real time in a fluoroscopic apparatus using low dose fluoroscopic data. In the present invention, a detector detects X-rays irradiated from an X-ray source and the data obtained is obtained as fluoroscopic images. When an instruction is received from the user during this time, the X-ray source and the detector are moved relative to each other, pre-processing is performed on the fluoroscopic images acquired during this time, and the images are stored. Then, when a specified number has been stored, arithmetic processing is performed on the stored fluoroscopic images to obtain a tomographic image. The tomographic images obtained can be displayed along with the fluoroscopic images.
In order to provide an X-ray tube device having a configuration which is capable of shielding X-rays without reducing cooling efficiency and provide an X-ray imaging device in which the X-ray tube device is installed, a device is equipped with: a cathode (211) which discharges an electron beam; an anode (212) which, by the electron beam colliding therewith, emits X-rays from a focal point that is the collision point with the electron beam; a vacuum envelope (213) which houses the cathode (211) and the anode (212) in a vacuum atmosphere; a housing (220) which supports the vacuum envelope (213) along with a cooling medium; and an X-ray shield (500) which is provided between the vacuum envelope (213) and the housing (220) and blocks the X-rays emitted from the focal point, and which is provided along the direction of flow of the cooling medium.
To provide an X-ray CT device, etc. which are capable of improving image quality even with low radiation exposure imaging by reducing artifacts that are generated around a high absorber on the image and image noises, a reconstruction operation device (221) sets the number of iterations of an iteration process for correcting projection data and calculates, as calibration factors, an adjustment factor (α) which adjusts an application rate of a noise reduction process (f1) and a signal intensity maintaining process (f2) that are included in the iteration process and a correction factor (β). The iteration process that includes the noise reduction process (f1) and signal intensity maintaining process (f2) is performed on the projection data on the basis of the number of iterations and the calibration factors (α, β), corrected projection data is created, and a CT image is reconstructed.
In order to provide a medical imaging system which is provided with a bed that is capable of maintaining a subject's safety, a medical imaging system (200) according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a top plate (12) on which a subject is placed, a drive screw shaft (52) and a fall prevention part (300). The fall prevention part (300) comprises: a load support nut (56) which is in threaded engagement with the drive screw shaft (52) and onto which the load of the top plate (12) is applied; a fall prevention nut (58) which is disposed below the load support nut (56) and is in threaded engagement with the drive screw shaft (52); a rotation prevention mechanism (55) which prevents rotation of the load support nut (56); and a detent mechanism (57) which prevents the fall prevention nut (58) from turning and in which, when the threaded engagement between the drive screw shaft (52) and the load support nut (56) is disconnected, the detent of the fall prevention nut (58) is released. Additionally, when the threaded engagement between the drive screw shaft (52) and the load support nut (56) is disconnected, the detent of the fall prevention nut (58) is released whereby the fall prevention nut (58) rotates along with the rotation of the drive screw shaft (52).
An inclined-magnetic-field generating device (3) of an MRI device has at least a pair of conductor rings (5) provided in an arrangement region which is an inside part of the inclined-magnetic-field generating device (3), an end-part side of the inclined-magnetic-field generating device (3) in a homogeneous magnetic field direction, and outside of inclined-magnetic-field generating sources (3a, 3b) in the radial direction of a static-magnetic-field generating source. In a cross-section where an at least single-turn coil pattern (341b) positioned in contiguity in the radial direction of the conductor ring (5) is cut in a plane including the radial direction and the homogeneous magnetic field direction (z-axis direction), a dimension in the radial direction is smaller than a coil pattern (342b) of another turn of the same coil as the at least single turn, and a dimension in the homogeneous magnetic field direction is larger. Through this configuration, an MRI device having an inclined-magnetic-field generating device is provided whereby degradation of a tomographic image can be suppressed while leakage magnetic fields are reduced, and whereby wall thickness is reduced, short axis is lengthened in the case of a horizontal-magnetic-field-type device, and the radial-direction dimension is shortened in the case of a vertical-magnetic-field-type device.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
G01R 33/385 - Systems for generation, homogenisation or stabilisation of the main or gradient magnetic field using gradient magnetic field coils
35.
IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, RADIOGRAPHY DEVICE, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD
An image processing device or radiography device for creating an image using output data from a detector for detecting radiation that passes through a test object, wherein artifacts due to offset between an estimated output value and a true output value are reduced when estimating the output value of a defective pixel of the detector. Rather than correcting only the output of a defective pixel, the output of surrounding normal pixels used to correct the defective pixel is corrected by blur processing. The presence of blur processing or degree of blur processing of the surrounding normal pixels is also adjusted through use of a condition such as a device condition or an imaging condition.
In order to provide an X-ray imaging apparatus that enables an operator to recognize an X-ray irradiation range via a visible light irradiation region, even if an X-ray source is positioned below a subject: an X-ray irradiation range display unit, which emits visible light showing the range of X-rays radiated by an X-ray generation unit towards a subject, is disposed on an X-ray detection unit, and a second X-ray irradiation range display unit, which emits visible light showing the range of X-rays radiated by the X-ray generation unit towards the subject, is disposed on the X-ray generation unit. Even if the X-ray generation unit has an under tube disposed below the subject, the X-ray irradiation range display unit radiates visible light on top of the subject, showing the X-ray irradiation range on top of the subject.
To facilitate positioning operation that is necessary for X-ray imaging, a mobile X-ray device (1) comprises: an X-ray source (40) which is supported in a raisable and lowerable manner; an ultrasonic distance measurement unit (90) which measures the distance from the X-ray source (40) to an object subject to the distance measurement that is positioned below the X-ray source; and a control unit (12) and a braking unit (80) which compare a focus-image reception face distance that indicates the distance from the X-ray source (40) to an X-ray detector (4) and a measurement value obtained by measurement by the ultrasonic distance measurement unit (90) and on the basis of the result of comparison apply braking to the raising and lowering movement.
In order to provide an X-ray detector and X-ray CT device that make the alignment of a collimator plate easy, said X-ray detector and X-ray CT device are characterized by the provision of the following: a radiation-detecting-element array in which a plurality of radiation-detecting elements that detect radiation produced by a radiation source are arrayed in a first direction and a second direction that is perpendicular thereto; a collimator plate that is aligned in the first direction on the radiation-source-side of the radiation-detecting-element array and gets rid of scattered radiation; and collimator-plate support parts that are aligned in the second direction between radiation-detecting elements and have grooves that support the collimator plate.
In the present invention, in order to reduce errors in assessment of a structure due to noise, and to remove noised superimposed on an image while retaining significant information and without introducing artificiality into a resultant image after noise removal, a reference image created from a plurality of source images and each source image are compared to compute a degree of similarity, and the degree of similarity is used as an index for noise determination. The source images are smoothed and synthesized using the index, and a final image is obtained from which noise has been removed.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
A61B 6/00 - Apparatus for radiation diagnosis, e.g. combined with radiation therapy equipment
A61B 8/00 - Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
40.
IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND REGION EXTRACTION METHOD
In order to provide an image processing device, region extraction method, and image processing method capable of extracting a target region on the basis of minute variations in a concentration value which exist in localized fashion, and of clearly displaying the extracted target region, an image processing device (100) extracts a blood vessel region (A) from an image and extracts a region in which a CT value is smaller than the average concentration value of the blood vessel region (A) as a soft plaque region (B). For unextracted soft plaque, a pixel pair is set in a difference region between the blood vessel region (A) and the soft plaque region (B), and for each pixel (Pj) of the pixel pair, a determination is made as to whether the pixel value is even smaller than a value slightly smaller than the CT value of the pixel pair. A portion in which there is localized slight variation in pixel values is thereby extracted as soft plaque.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
41.
MEDICAL IMAGE DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, MEDICAL IMAGE DATA MANAGEMENT DEVICE, AND MEDICAL IMAGE DATA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Provided is a technology whereby the conditions for deleting medical image data from an internal storage device of a medical image data management system are dynamically updated according to usage of the medical image data. A medical image data management system according to the present invention comprises a first storage unit which stores medical image data and a second storage unit which is connected over a network to the first storage unit. On the basis of the records of transmission and reception of the medical image data between the first storage unit and the second storage unit, the conditions for deleting the medical image data from the first storage unit are updated.
G16H 10/60 - ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
A61B 5/00 - Measuring for diagnostic purposes ; Identification of persons
To provide an X-ray CT device and an image reconstruction method which are capable of creating an image in which influence of movement of a site to be imaged is reduced, an image processing device (403) of an X-ray CT device (1) calculates a reconstruction data range which is the range of projection data used for reconstruction on the basis of a movement direction of a site to be imaged. An image is reconstructed using the projection data of the calculated reconstruction data range. The reconstruction data range is the projection data of the projection range of at least 180 degrees that includes a projection direction which substantially matches the movement direction of the site to be imaged. Since the image is reconstructed using the projection data of the range such that influence of the movement direction of the site to be imaged is minimal, an image with less motion artifacts can be obtained.
Multi-echo imaging using refocusing RF pulses not only of 180 degrees, whereby high-quality images in which unnecessary contrast is reduced and the intended contrast is emphasized are obtained. For that purpose, imaging parameters are adjusted to reduce unnecessary contrast. Adjustment is carried out such that, among echo signals from multiple tissues having different relaxation times, the signal strengths of the echo signals that determine contrast, such as the echo signal of the k-space center, converge for echo signals from tissues for which the relaxation time producing the intended contrast is the same. The imaging parameters to be adjusted include the repetition time, DE pulse FA, saturation pulse FA, saturation pulse application timing, application strength of gradient magnetic field during recovery time, and application timing.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
44.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE AND PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF
Provided is a magnetic resonance imaging device which is capable of displaying more accurately images that indicate the condition of tissues such as water or fat. To that end, a signal processing unit (110) processes the signal of each pixel of a first image (506) created on the basis of NMR signals for each pixel of the first image (506) in turn to generate a second image (509), and determines the order in which to process unprocessed pixels of the first image (506) by preferentially selecting an unprocessed pixel with greater signal strength among unprocessed pixels, for which multiple processes have not been performed, adjoining the processed pixels that are already processed of the first image (506).
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
45.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE AND MEASUREMENT METHOD THEREOF
Provided is a magnetic resonance imaging device which acquires spectral data for which influence of contaminated signals from outside of a volume of interest is reduced. To that end, this magnetic resonance imaging device acquires a first echo signal generated by a subject in a state in which a gradient magnetic field generation means generates a gradient magnetic field in one polarity, acquires a second echo signal generated by the subject in a state in which the gradient magnetic field generation means generates a gradient magnetic field in another polarity which is the opposite polarity to the one polarity, and creates a graph that indicates a state of metabolites from both the first echo signal and the second echo signal.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
Through the present invention, an error between projection and back projection in CT image generation is reduced. The CT image generation device according to the present invention is provided with: an X-ray scanner provided with an X-ray source and a detector; a storage module including a detector data block, a weighting data block, and a parameter data block; and a processor module including a main processor, a weighting calculation unit, a weighting vector multiplication unit, and a separable footprint computation unit. A scanner stores scanned data as detector data in the detector data block, the weighting calculation unit acquires a geometry parameter from the parameter data block and calculates a weighting vector, and the main processor controls a projection/back projection angle loop using the geometry parameter. The weighting vector multiplication unit multiplies the detector data by a weighting vector and acquires a corrected detector value, and the separable footprint computation unit executes a separable footprint projection/back projection algorithm using the corrected detector value.
In order to provide an X-ray CT device whereby the computing time required for an iterative approximate projection data correction process is shortened by applying the iterative approximate projection data correction process over a limited range, and whereby it is possible to generate low-noise images according to the purpose of scanning, a first computing unit (202) of the X-ray CT device (1) performs an iterative approximate projection data correction process of projection data obtained through imaging, to create corrected projection data, and uses the corrected projection data to reconstruct a CT image. The computing unit (202) determines a range for application of the iterative approximate projection data correction process, doing so on the basis of imaging parameters, reconstruction parameters, and the like. For example, a slice direction application range is determined on the basis of X-ray beam width, and a channel direction application range is determined on the basis of FOV. The computing unit (202) performs the iterative approximate projection data correction process on projection data corresponding to the application ranges so determined, and creates corrected projection data.
In order to provide a medical image diagnostic device wherein body position setting can be performed easily with few operations, and in a manner such that the direction and the positional relationship of an image capture device relative to a subject are easy to understand, reference location selection objects (5a-5h) are displayed in a plurality of positions together with an image (3A) for body position setting. The image for body position setting indicates the positional relationship of an image capture device (10) and a subject, and the reference location selection objects indicate the position and the orientation of a subject reference location. In addition, if any of the positions of the reference location selection objects are selected, the body position corresponding to the selected object is set as an image capture condition. Furthermore, the display switches to the image for body position setting corresponding to the selected object. Such a method for setting the body position enables an operator to set the body position intuitively. Furthermore, the body position and the direction settings can both be set with one click.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
49.
MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, AND MEDICAL IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology which can perform noise elimination on a three-dimensional image by using an isotropic three-dimensional adaptive filter. With respect to a medical image including a three-dimensional reconstructed image (40) of a subject, the present invention sets three-dimensional regions of interest (41a-41d) centred on target pixels, and detects the travelling directions of structures (42a-42c) present in the three-dimensional regions of interest on the basis of the distribution of pixel values included in the three-dimensional regions of interest. The present invention sets three-dimensional spatial filters, the shapes of which are aligned in the travelling directions of the structures, or if there is no structure, sets a three-dimensional smoothing filter which does not take structural shapes into account, and performs noise elimination processing on the three-dimensional areas of interest by using the three-dimensional spatial filters.
The purpose of the present invention is to improve measurement accuracy by reducing the resolution difference in one reconfiguration image generated using a flying focal spot (FFS) method, said resolution difference being dependent on imaging position. This X-ray CT device interpolates missing data in projection data obtained using an FFS method, by: performing view-direction-interpolation processing in which actual data arranged along an angular direction of rotational movement is used in the projection data; and performing channel-direction-interpolation processing in which actual data arranged along a channel direction is used in the projection data. Accordingly, a reconfiguration image is generated in which the contribution ratio of the projection data subjected to view-direction-interpolation processing and the contribution ratio of the projection data subjected to channel-direction-interpolation processing differ in accordance with the position of pixels in the reconfiguration image.
An objective of the present invention is, with a magnetic resonance imaging device which emits a gradient magnetic field with parallel driving of positive-side subcoils and negative-side subcoils with different power sources in the gradient magnetic field direction, to detect with good precision a misalignment in drive timing of the positive side and the negative side without employing an additional device. Pulse sequences for timing misalignment detection of a plurality of types having a slice gradient magnetic field pulse (201) and a read-out gradient magnetic field pulse (206) in the same direction as a gradient magnetic field of interest are executed. A positive-side slice echo and a negative-side slice echo of the gradient magnetic field are photographed. A phase difference between a positive-side projection image and a negative-side projection image is derived by computation with phase error from other factors being removed. From the slope of the phase difference with respect to a location, the drive timing misalignment between the positive-side subcoil and the negative-side subcoil of the gradient magnetic field emission is detected.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
G01R 33/385 - Systems for generation, homogenisation or stabilisation of the main or gradient magnetic field using gradient magnetic field coils
In order to provide a technique for increasing the precision of separation of a cutaneous blood flow signal and a cerebral blood flow signal without increasing the burden on a user in the separation of signal components from a surface layer site using a TDD-ICA method in biological optical measurement, the present invention imparts a plurality of candidate delay times to pre-acquired data having a short SD distance and data having a long SD distance. The present invention is also provided with an analysis unit (410) for calculating a separation degree indicating the degree of separation of a cutaneous blood flow signal after separation by the TDD-ICA method for each imparted candidate delay time, a delay time determination unit (420) for determining the optimum delay time in accordance with the separation degree, and a display data generation unit (430) for generating display data for displaying a comparison in a display unit (142) of a waveform prior to separation, the waveform of the cerebral blood flow signal after separation, and the waveform of the cutaneous blood flow signal during display of results separated using the determined delay time.
A61B 10/00 - Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. for vaccination diagnosis; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
A61B 5/1455 - Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH-value using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
53.
GRADIENT MAGNETIC FIELD COIL DEVICE AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE
A gradient magnetic field coil device (2) has a main coil device (3) shaped by embedding a plurality of main coils (3z) for generating a gradient magnetic field and a leakage magnetic field in a first resin (3a), and a shield coil device (4) shaped by embedding a plurality of shield coils (4z) for suppressing the leakage magnetic field in a second resin (4a), the shield coil device (4) is provided with a facing region (A1) facing the main coil device (3) and fixed to the main coil device (3), and a protruding region (A2) protruding from the main coil device (3), and an insulating reinforcing material (5) is embedded in the second resin (4a) in the protruding region (A2). A plurality of the reinforcing material (5) are arranged in the circumferential direction of the shield coil device (4), and the second resin (4a) is preferably filled in between reinforcing materials (5) that are adjacent to each other. The reinforcing materials (5) are preferably arranged on the main coil device (3) side with respect to the shield coils (4z).
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
54.
IMAGE DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE, AND MEDICAL IMAGE GENERATION DEVICE
In order to reduce processing load on an image display device, an image data transmission system (1) is provided with: a medical image generation device 2) for transmitting medical image data having image-accompanied information and image identity information to a network (5); an image display device (3) for receiving the image-accompanied information transmitted to the network (5); a memory device (4) for receiving the image-accompanied information and image identity information transmitted to the network (5); an image data acquiring unit (34) for requesting transmission of the image identity information to the memory device (4) using the received image-accompanied information, receiving the image identity information transmitted to the network (5) in accordance with the transmission request, and acquiring the received image identity information and medical image data formed from the image-accompanied information, the image data acquiring unit (34) being provided to the image display device (3); and an image data transmission unit (41) for transmitting the image identity information that corresponds to the transmission-requested image-accompanied information to the network (5), the image data transmission unit (41) being provided to the memory unit (4).
G16H 10/60 - ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
55.
X-RAY HIGH-VOLTAGE DEVICE AND X-RAY CT DEVICE USING SAME
Provided is an X-ray high-voltage device that is capable of improving the power factor of an inverter circuit with respect to the stray capacitance of a closed circuit between the secondary winding of a high-voltage transformer and the input terminals of a high-voltage rectifier. This X-ray high-voltage device comprises: a converter circuit (2) that converts an alternating-current voltage of an alternating-current power source having a commercial frequency into a direct-current voltage; an inverter circuit (3) that converts the direct-current voltage converted by the converter circuit (2) into a high-frequency alternating-current voltage having a higher frequency than the commercial frequency; a high-voltage transformer (4) that boosts the voltage of the high-frequency alternating-current voltage converted by the inverter circuit (3) to a high-frequency high alternating-current voltage; a high-voltage rectifier (6) that rectifies the high alternating-current voltage boosted by the high-voltage transformer (4) into a high direct-current voltage; an X-ray tube (8) to which the high direct-current voltage rectified by the high-voltage rectifier (6) is supplied; and an inductive load (resonant inductance) (5) that is connected between the input terminals of the high-voltage rectifier (6), and that reduces the lead in the phase of the current with respect to that of the voltage caused by the stray capacitance of the secondary winding of the high-voltage transformer (4) and other stray capacitors (42) that look parallel to said capacitance.
The purpose of the present invention is to suppress a reduction in quality of a taken image due to a fluctuating magnetic field generated by a fan motor provided in a position at which leakage of a magnetic field for measurement occurs. This magnetic resonance imaging device for achieving this purpose is characterized by having: a gantry provided with a static magnetic field generating magnet having a cylindrical space into which a subject is placed, the static magnetic field generating magnet being for generating a static magnetic field in the space, a gradient magnetic field generating coil for generating a gradient magnetic field, and an irradiation coil for irradiating a high-frequency signal; a table for loading the subject; and an input/output device which includes a display device; at least a pair of cooling fan motors being provided which are disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to a central axis extending along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical space and positioned at the center in the horizontal direction of the static magnetic field generating magnet, or with respect to a vertical plane passing through the central axis.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
57.
X-RAY CT DEVICE AND TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING METHOD THEREFOR
In order to provide an X-ray CT device which has minimal decrease in image quality even though a tube current value of an X-ray tube is suppressed, this X-ray CT device comprises an X-ray tube, and is characterised by comprising: an X-ray source which irradiates a subject with X-rays; an X-ray detection apparatus which detects transmitted X-rays emitted from the X-ray source and transmitted through the subject; a rotating mechanism to which the X-ray source and the X-ray detection apparatus are mounted, and which rotates around the subject; a system control device which calculates a tube current value of the X-ray tube on the basis of a successive approximation processing condition selected from among a plurality of successive approximation processing conditions, and an inputted imaging condition and/or a reconstruction condition, and furthermore which carries out imaging using the calculated tube current of the X-ray tube; and an image reconstruction device which irradiates the subject from an X-ray source on the basis of the calculated tube current value of the X-ray tube, and which reconstructs a tomographic image of the subject from the amount of transmitted X-rays transmitted through the subject and detected by the X-ray detection apparatus, said reconstruction being on the basis of the selected successive approximation processing condition and the reconstruction condition.
The purpose of the present invention is to easily determine the Q value of an RF irradiation coil in a state where an examination subject is disposed in an MRI device, and to predict a specific absorption rate (SAR) with good accuracy. In order to achieve the foregoing, in a state where an examination subject (1) is disposed in an image pick-up space, high-frequency magnetic field pulses are radiated from an irradiation coil (14a) towards the examination subject (1), and the transmission voltage and reflected voltage of the irradiation coil (14a) are detected. The Q value of the irradiation coil, in a state where the examination subject (1) is disposed, is determined from the transmission voltage and the reflected voltage. Using that Q value, the SAR is predicted in a case where an image pick-up pulse sequence is executed on the examination subject.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
59.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE AND ANTENNA DEVICE
In order to provide a technique for maintaining uniform sensitivity of the interior of an antenna using a simple configuration, without dependence on the size, shape, and arrangement of the load, without dependence on the arrangement of the antenna constituent members, and without sacrifice of the internal space of the antenna in a TEM antenna, the TEM antenna is provided with a rung conductor which is branched into a plurality in the center part and which merges into a single line at the two ends. In other words, the TEM antenna has a rung conductor having a gap along the lengthwise direction of the rung conductor in the center part. This rung conductor is arranged near an adjacent rung conductor in the center part and is disposed so as to maintain the same conventional distance at the end parts.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
A three-dimensional CT image is obtained and output by sequentially storing image data of an image of an object to be processed according to a prescribed direction, and using a multicore processor, performing a back projection/projection process in parallel by a plurality of threads so that each thread sequentially processes in a direction that is orthogonal to the prescribed direction. Accordingly, by using a multicore processor such as a GPU, there is high flexibility and less restrictions and the technical problem of the process speed being limited by the band width is solved. At the same time, when processing the data using a multicore processor in storage and back projection/projection process, by taking into account the rules for multithread memory access of a multicore processor such as a GPU, cache hit ratio is improved, coalesced access is achieved and memory access speed is greatly improved.
To provide an image processing device and a spinal canal evaluation method, whereby a cross-section location is identified as a site for evaluation of a spinal canal stricture on the basis of a shape upon an image of a vertebra, and it is possible to evaluate a stricture of the spinal canal in the identified site, an image processing device (100) extracts a vertebra region from a continuous tomographic image group which has photographed at least a portion of the vertebrae, and, for each cross-section, computes the length in the fore-aft direction of the subject for each vertebra region. A cross-section which includes a spinous process is identified on the basis of the computed length in the fore-aft direction of the subject for each vertebra region, the identified cross-section location is evaluated for a stricture of the spinal canal as a site to be analyzed, and the result of the evaluation is displayed. Thus, it is possible to carry out an evaluation of a stricture for spinal canal regions wherein a closed space is not prone to appearing in an image with a plurality of gaps and which have a variety of shapes.
A rotary anode X-ray tube (2) in this rotary anode X-ray tube device (1) is characterized in having: an anode member (4) that is irradiated by an electron beam emitted from a cathode member (3) and thereby caused to generate X-rays; a rotary member (5, 6) for supporting the anode member; a bearing housing (7) for rotatably supporting the rotary member via a roller bearing (10A, 10B); and a container for hermetically enclosing the cathode member, the anode member, the rotary member, and the bearing housing; a gap (S1) being formed at least between the inner surface of the bearing housing and the outer ring (101) of the roller bearing (10A) disposed on the anode member side in the axial direction of the rotary members; and the gap being filled with a liquid metal (18). This provides a rotary anode X-ray tube device and an X-ray image-capturing device in which rotary vibration is reduced and roller bearing life is improved while stable rotation is enabled over a long period of time.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a structure whereby it is possible to efficaciously reduce quench in an open superconducting magnet. To this end, a pair of superconducting magnets (10, 20) respectively comprise a primary coil (1), a shield coil (4) for alleviating a stray magnetic field of the primary coil (1), and a coil bobbin (2). The coil bobbin (2) further comprises a cylindrical part (26) whereupon the primary coil (1) is wound, a ring-shaped end plate (3), an inner circumference part whereof is anchored upon an image capture space (40)-side end part of the cylindrical part (26), and a support member (5) which alleviates the displacement of the outer circumference part of the ring-shaped end plate (3) on the image capture space (40)-side. Thus, deformation of the end plate (3) is alleviated and deformation of the primary coil (1) is avoided. It is possible to reduce quench arising from the deformation of the primary coil (1).
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
In order to provide technology for improving image quality by selectively exciting only the intended region with high precision whether in 2-D spectral-spatial excitation or 3-D spectral-spatial excitation, the present invention accepts the selection of a k-space trajectory in which side lobe excitation of regions outside the region of interest is limited. When doing so, the excitation regions of the selected k-space trajectory are displayed to the operator and the operator is able to adjust the excitation regions through the display. After the adjustment of the excitation regions by the operator is applied, the multi-dimensional spectral-spatial excitation pulse is stabilized.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
In the present invention, in order to provide a technology for simplifying the pre-examination input tasks for a medical use image image pick-up device, an image pick-up support system comprises the following: a medical use image image pick-up device (1) for generating a medical use image of a subject (4); a position detection section (33, 111) for detecting the current position of the medical use image image pick-up device (1); a subject candidate search section (116) for searching, on the basis of the current position, for a subject candidate that will be the examination target; an operation section (31) for receiving an operation that selects the subject that will be the examination target; and an image pick-up conditions setting section (93) for setting the image pick-up conditions for the subject that will be the examination target.
The present invention increases the CT image (small FOV image) precision of a local region obtained when a magnified reconstruction technique is applied to the iterative approximation reconstruction method. A first CT image in a first reconstruction area is reconstructed from projection data for a subject detected by an X-ray-detecting unit of an X-ray CT apparatus and the first CT image is iteratively revised so that first calculated projection data obtained by projection calculation from the first CT image becomes equal to the projection data for the subject. Using the iteratively revised first CT image, local measured projection data corresponding to a second reconstruction area is extracted. A second CT image reconstructed in the second reconstruction area is iteratively revised so that the extracted local measured projection data and second calculated projection data obtained by projection calculation from the second CT image become equal.
In order to provide an image processing device and the like whereby, in a process for recognizing specific regions in an image, regions that said image contains a plurality of and that contain gray-level variations can be recognized with high precision via a simple operation, a CPU (101) performs a threshold evaluation in which prescribed threshold conditions are applied to a target pixel (31) in an original 3D image (30) and a plurality of surrounding pixels (an evaluation range (33)) and marks said target pixel as a recognized pixel if the threshold conditions are satisfied. The threshold conditions preferably apply different thresholds to pixels in the same plane as the target pixel (31) and pixels in different planes. By successively moving the target pixel (31) (the evaluation range (33)) and repeating the abovementioned threshold evaluation, said threshold evaluation is performed on the entire original 3D image (30). This allows automated, high-precision recognition of tissue containing gray-level variations, such as cartilage, without an operator being required to set a start point.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
In order to eliminate a global phase change caused by an inhomogeneous static magnetic field and included in a nuclear magnetic resonance signal, attention is paid to the fact that a phase component caused by a inhomogeneous static magnetic field and generated in a nuclear magnetic resonance signal is in a predetermined frequency band (low-frequency band), and the phase component in the frequency band caused by the inhomogeneous static magnetic field is eliminated from an image generated from a nuclear magnetic resonance signal in main imaging. The predetermined frequency band of the phase component caused by the inhomogeneous static magnetic field is found from a nuclear magnetic resonance signal acquired by preliminary imaging.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
69.
BIOPHOTONIC MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND BIOPHOTONIC MEASUREMENT METHOD USING SAME
In a biophotonic measurement apparatus using a probe having multiple source-detector distances (SD distances) for separating light absorption changes in superficial layers and deep layers of biological tissue on the basis of near infrared spectroscopy, light reception sensitivity for various subjects/various regions is stabilized by adjusting the amount of attenuation of the light that is transmitted or received. The biophotonic measurement apparatus comprises: a light source; a detector for detecting light irradiated on an irradiation point of a subject from the light source and propagated inside the subject; a light attenuation amount-adjusting means disposed on the light path between the light source - subject or light detector - subject; an analysis unit for signal analysis; and a display unit for displaying the analysis results. The light source and the detector are each disposed so that there are two or more SD distances, which are defined as the distance between an irradiation point and a detection point. The analysis unit analyzes the measured signals and calculates the light attenuation adjustment amount for fitting each amount of received light within a specified range. From the analysis results, the light attenuation amount-adjusting means adjusts the respective light attenuation amounts by changing the amount of light entering the detector.
A61B 10/00 - Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. for vaccination diagnosis; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
A61B 5/1455 - Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH-value using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
70.
IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE AND MEDICAL IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE
The purpose of the present invention is to maintain good visibility of a measurement range peripheral site and display measurement results. An image display device comprising: a cursor processing unit that performs control for generating and displaying on a screen a range cursor (81) indicating a measurement range on a medical image, an identification label (83) including identification information that uniquely identifies the range cursor (81), and a results label (82) including the identification information and measurement results; and an operation unit that sets the range cursor and receives movement operations for the results label. Once the range cursor (81) is set, same is linked to the results label (82) and displayed. Then, when an operation to move the results label (82) is performed, the results label is separated from the range cursor (81) and enabled to move, and the identification label (83), instead of the results label (82), is linked to the range cursor (81) and displayed.
In order to provide a medical imaging device such that device abnormality that does not affect operating status or life can be monitored and an operation corresponding to the abnormality can be performed, a medical imaging device is provided with: an imaging unit (13) configured to generate medical image data by imaging a subject, the imaging unit (13) including one or more units; a state signal acquisition unit (8) that acquires a state signal indicating normality or abnormality of each unit; a state value calculation unit (9) that calculates a state value indicating a defect level of the unit by using a weight corresponding to the operating status of the medical imaging device and the state signal; and an output unit (10) that outputs information corresponding to the state value.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a pre-stress structure in a rotating anode x-ray tube device whereby no delay is present, and no excessive load is incurred, due to necessary pre-loading, which is to say, thermal conduction. A rotating anode x-ray tube device comprises a cathode and a rotating anode. The rotating anode further comprises: rotating bodies (8a, 8b) which rotate with an anode target; a bearing unit (10) for lubricating the rotation of the rotating bodies; and a fixed body which rotatably supports the rotating bodies via the bearing unit (10). The bearing unit (10) further comprises: a plurality of bearings (13, 17) which are positioned along the axial directions of the rotating bodies; and pre-load structures (14, 16, 207, 208) which are individually disposed upon each bearing. With respect to each respective bearing, each respective pre-load structure imparts a pre-load quantity to the bearings which is lower than loads which are imparted to the bearings from the rotating bodies, with the directions of the axes of rotation of the rotating bodies matching the direction of gravity.
An X-ray detector (320), configured by disposing X-ray-detecting elements (322) in an array, detects the intensity of X-rays that are radiated from an X-ray tube (311) and have passed through a subject (500). A data-processing device (420) detects abnormal imaging data by arranging the imaging data, which is based on X-ray intensity, in an X-ray-detecting element (322) arrangement sequence or in a time sequence and associates a weight larger than "1" to the imaging data adjacent to the abnormal imaging data and associates a weight of "1" to the other imaging data. A pixel vector update amount reflecting said weights is calculated. Successive approximations are computed using the update amount to generate the X-ray CT image of the subject (500).
The purpose of the present invention is to keep discontinuities between echoes from becoming large level differences in the k-space and to reduce artifacts that occur in the reconstructed image due to k-space discontinuities. When performing a fast spin echo method pulse sequence for collecting multiple echoes using spin-flip after a single RF excitation, this MRI apparatus controls the order of arrangement of the multiple echoes that are disposed in the k-space using the phase characteristics of the multiple echoes collected after a single RF excitation. The arrangement is controlled so that at least near the center of the k-space, echoes with small phase differences between the echoes are adjacent to each other.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
75.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD
According to the present invention, in order to respond to positional change in a variety of directions due to body motion such as respiratory motion, and to prevent occurrence of dead time in measurement or an increase in imaging time due to acquisition of body motion information, a control unit of an MRI device acquires association information in which body motion information detected by an external monitor, such as a pressure sensor for monitoring the movement of the inspection subject, and body motion information measured from an NMR signal by navigator sequences are associated with each other in advance. When imaging is performed, the body motion information from the navigator is estimated using the body motion information detected by the external monitor worn by the inspection subject and the association information acquired in advance, and there is performed a control such as performing gating imaging or correcting the imaging slice position on the basis of the estimated body motion position.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
76.
X-RAY CT DEVICE AND X-RAY CT DEVICE PHOTOGRAPHY METHOD
This x-ray CT device comprises: a table which moves a subject in a body axis direction; an x-ray source which projects x-rays upon the subject; a rotating disc (124) which retains the x-ray source and rotates on the basis of a control instruction; an x-ray detector which detects the x-rays which pass through the subject; an image processing unit which, on the basis of the output of the x-ray detector, collects projection data and reconstructs an x-ray image; and an I/O device further comprising a display device and an input device. On the basis of an inputted photography condition, a movement condition of the table is computed which will allow collecting the projection data in synchronization with the movement of the heart. The computed movement condition of the table is displayed as a chart having a body axis and a time axis. The movement of the table (302) is controlled by the movement condition of the table which is displayed in the chart.
Provided is a data analysis technique with which simple, highly accurate diagnostic assistance using MRS spectra obtained by MRS measurement is possible. Similarity is determined from the records of a previously created spectral database of respective diseases and from analysis data of a newly acquired unknown MRS spectrum, and candidate diseases are presented. In determining similarity, only data for which reliability indices of respective predetermined feature items satisfy predetermined conditions, out of the analysis data, is used. Also when the spectral database of respective diseases is being created, only data for which reliability indices of respective predetermined feature items satisfy predetermined conditions, out of analysis data of one or more definitively diagnosed MRS spectra, is used in the same manner.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
78.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE, AND DETERMINATION METHOD FOR HIGH-FREQUENCY MAGNETIC FIELD CONDITIONS
The purpose of the present invention is to efficiently perform high quality imaging of a region to be examined, in an MRI device using a transmission coil having a plurality of channels. The present invention is provided with: a region setting unit which sets, as a first region, a region of which a high quality image is to be acquired, said region being inside an imaging region; and an optimization unit which determines, as high-frequency magnetic field conditions, the amplitude and/or phase of high frequencies transmitted respectively from the plurality of channels. The optimization unit determines the high-frequency magnetic field conditions such that, under a uniformity constraint condition, namely that the uniformity of the high-frequency magnetic field distribution in the first region be at least a prescribed value, the specific absorption rate and/or the signal value of a region in which an artifact is generated are/is equal to or less than respective prescribed values therefor.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
79.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE CONSTRUCTION DEVICE AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE CONSTRUCTION METHOD
According to the present invention, in order to construct a three-dimensional image with which a specific region can be readily observed, a computation unit (2) generates (S11) a depth image corresponding to a first three-dimensional image with respect to a region of interest and sets (S12) a first image region on the basis of a depth gradient of the depth image within the region of interest. Next, the computation unit (2) moves (S13) the origins of projection lines forward or backward in a projection line direction by an amount of movement (B) for the pixels within the first image region, constructs (S15) a depth image based on the moved origins of the projection lines within the first image region, sets (S16) a second image region on the basis of the depth gradient of the depth image based on the moved origins of the projection lines within the first image region, and, until the termination condition is satisfied, makes (S18) the second image region be the first image region and repeats from the process in (S13). Once the termination condition is satisfied, the computation unit (2) constructs (S19) a second three-dimensional image based on the moved origins of the projection lines.
In order to minimize blurring and shifting of an image captured in a reverse tilt position, this fluoroscopic imaging equipment is provided with: a tiltable bed top plate (17); a parameter calculation unit (19) that calculates position parameters representing a tilting position along the longitudinal axis of the bed top plate (17) relative to the horizontal plane; a movement detection unit (151) that detects the magnitude of the movement of a subject on the basis of X-ray images in continuous frames; a movement tolerance setting unit (152) that sets a movement tolerance representing the permitted magnitude of movement on the basis of the position parameters; and an imaging control unit (155) that controls motion for capturing images on the basis of the movement tolerance set by the movement tolerance setting unit (152).
Provided is a gradient magnetic field coil device by which an eddy current magnetic field of an even-ordered component can be reduced. The invention includes a forward coil (3a) and a reverse coil (3b) which faces the forward coil (3a) so as to sandwich a middle surface (3c) and through which flows an electric current directed opposite to the forward coil (3a). The forward coil (3a) and the reverse coil (3b) have a middle region (3d) approaching the middle surface (3c) and an outside-the-middle region (3e) where the distance from the middle surface (3c) is greater than the middle region (3d). A line width (L1) of coil lines (37a, 37b) in the middle region (3d) is narrower than a line width (L2) of coil lines (37a to 37d) in the outside-the-middle region (3e).
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
The present invention prevents aliasing of the X-ray detector from lowering the spatial resolution and enhances the precision of measurement in an X-ray CT device. An X-ray CT device for capturing an X-ray transmission image from a plurality of angular directions with respect to an object and generating a tomographic image of the object on the basis of the transmission images, wherein a plurality of detection pixels of an X-ray detector (2) are added together and a signal is retrieved, and also the adding positions of the plurality of detection pixels are changed in synchronization with a plurality of image-capturing timings, thereby allowing a computer (CPU), which is a signal processing unit, to enhance the spatial resolution without lowering the S/N of the CT image thus measured. This has the effect of making it possible to measure finer structures, such as blood vessels, and enhance the diagnostic capability, without having to increase the subject's exposure in, for example, medical CT.
In an X-ray CT apparatus that performs imaging of a moving region as the object and reconstructs tomographic images suitable for the diagnostic objective, to improve the precision of analysis of a state of movement in a region or phase that is the diagnostic objective by narrowing the range and analyzing the movement information, the X-ray CT apparatus acquires electrocardiac information for the subject along with projection data, analyzes the movement information of the diagnostic region on the basis of the projection data and the electrocardiac information, determines an optimal phase that gives a state of movement suitable for reconstruction (for example, a state in which the amount of movement is the smallest) on the basis of the movement information, and reconstructs the tomographic images in the optimal phase. When doing so, to detect the optimal phase accurately in the phase or region of interest, the movement analysis range is adjusted so that disadvantageous movement information is thereby not included in the object of analysis. For example, the range of analysis is narrowed by applying an appropriate weight to movement information in a specified phase range or range of a somatic axis direction.
In order to provide a control technology for an inverter circuit with which switching loss can be reduced and a high power factor can be maintained regardless of load deviations, the direct current voltage supplied to an inverter (4) is controlled in accordance with the voltage of the load, thereby controlling the output power of the inverter (4). Thus, the output power of the inverter (4) can be adjusted without changing the output voltage pulse width of the inverter in accordance with load deviations. The drive frequency of the inverter (4) is controlled so as to be higher, exactly by a prescribed value, than the resonant frequency of a resonance circuit that includes the load (8). Thus, soft switching can be achieved. The pulse width of the output power of the inverter (4) is constant regardless of whether the load (8) is heavy or light, so it is not necessary for the phase of the current pulse to be delayed significantly with respect to the phase of the voltage pulse, and a high power factor can be maintained.
H02M 7/48 - Conversion of dc power input into ac power output without possibility of reversal by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
H02M 7/12 - Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
H05G 1/20 - Power supply arrangements for feeding the X-ray tube with pulse trains
H05G 1/32 - Supply voltage of the X-ray apparatus or tube
85.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE, GAS RECOVERY UNIT FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE
Provided is technology with which a coolant that has gasified due to power stoppage, and the like can be returned to a superconducting magnet with high efficiency. By means of this technology, a gas bag (125) that maintains a constant internal pressure by expanding and contracting in response to the volume of gas on the inside is connected to a coolant vessel of a superconducting magnet (101) and the coolant gas generated when a cooling unit (107) stops during power stoppage is reserved inside the coolant vessel. Thus, when power is restored and the cooling unit (107) is restarted, the coolant gas returns to the coolant vessel as the gas bag (125) contracts and all of the gas that has flowed out to the gas bag can thereby be returned to the coolant vessel. As a result, replenishing of coolant is unnecessary.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
To generate a reconstructed image which is suited to characteristics of a site (especially a bilaterally symmetric site) and with which an appropriate image diagnosis is possible, a computation device (202): computes a back projection phase width (F1) at a rotational center (S102); computes a distance (R1) between the rotational center location which is a reference location and a pixel to be reconstructed (S103); according to the distance (R1) between the rotational center location and the pixel to be reconstructed, sets a function (f1) which changes the back projection phase width (S104); computes a back projection phase width (F2) in the pixel to be reconstructed, substituting a value of the distance (R1) between the rotational center location which is the reference location and a pixel to be reconstructed in the function (f1) which changes the back projection phase width (S105); computes a view weighting, on the basis of the back projection phase width (F2) in the post-correction pixel to be reconstructed and a slope width (γ) of a view weighting function (S106); and reconstructs a CT image, using the view weighting (S107).
In the present invention, when a 3D medical image is displayed on a 3D display, the position of accompanying information displayed at the same time is appropriately controlled. The position of the accompanying information in the coordinate system of a 3D signal value that is an item to be drawn is computed, and said position is saved in a storage unit. By integrating a 3D data area and an accompanying information area, a drawing process unit generates an output image to be displayed in a display unit, said 3D data area being drawn for an area specified by mask information that specifies an area to be drawn among an array of the 3D signal value that is the item to be drawn, and being drawn on the basis of information that specifies a drawing method for a 2D image based on the 3D signal value array, and said accompanying information area being drawn for the accompanying information, which is associated with the item to be drawn, and being drawn on the basis of position information for the accompanying information determined by a drawing control unit. The display unit displays the drawn output image.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
To provide a method for controlling an X-ray image diagnosis device and X-ray generation device equipped with an ABS system for tracking movement of a subject position without an operator having to carry out an operation for setting a region of interest, the present invention is provided with: a determination condition storage unit (6i) for storing a region-of-interest position determination condition obtained by using image statistics information to define a condition for determining the position of a region of interest in an X-ray image out of a plurality of blocks generated by dividing the X-ray image into a plurality of regions; a first block statistics information calculation unit (6f) for calculating the image statistics information for each of the plurality of blocks; and a region-of-interest position selection unit (6g) for selecting a block serving as a region of interest from among the plurality of blocks, using the region-of-interest position determination condition and the image statistics information of each of the blocks. A feedback value to be used in controlling the brightness value of the region of interest is calculated on the basis of the brightness value of the region of interest, and an irradiation condition is determined so that the feedback value reaches a target brightness value.
To minimize, with a simple configuration, electromagnetic force which arises from an eddy current in a radiation shield when a superconductor electromagnet is quenched, one or more conductor rings (5) are bonded to a radiation shield (4) upon approximately the same axis as a superconductor coil. A region whereupon the conductor rings (5) are bonded is a region in which the direction of a component of a magnetic field in a radial direction when the superconductor coil is quenched is the opposite of a region in which the superconductor rings are not bonded. It is thus possible to eliminate electromagnetic force arising from an eddy current in the radiation shield when the superconductor electromagnet is quenched with electromagnetic force arising in the conductor rings.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
90.
MAGNETIC FIELD HOMOGENEITY ADJUSTMENT METHOD, MAGNET DEVICE, AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE
In the present invention, a computer is made to execute the following steps: a first volume distribution of a magnetic material on a shim tray is calculated on the basis of a first magnetic field strength distribution of a magnetic field space (S3); a first composite distribution, representing, for each region of the shim tray, the volume obtained by adding the position thereof and the volume of the magnetic material in the first volume distribution, is acquired (S5); a virtual magnetic field strength distribution created by a magnetic material supposed to be arranged as in the first composite distribution is calculated (S8); a second magnetic field strength distribution, obtained by adding the first magnetic field strength distribution and the virtual magnetic field strength distribution, is calculated (S9); a second volume distribution for the magnetic material in the shim tray is calculated on the basis of the second magnetic field distribution (S3); a second composite distribution, representing, for each region of the shim tray, the volume obtained by adding the position thereof and the volume of the magnetic material in the second volume distribution, is acquired (S5); and the positions and volumes of regions in the first composite distribution and the second composite distribution are displayed (S10).
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
G01R 33/3873 - Compensation of inhomogeneities using ferromagnetic bodies
91.
IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD
In order to provide an image processing device and the like making it possible to generate a target image in which edges of a structure are upheld and from which streaking artifacts are removed, a computation device determines the shape of a non-linear function on the basis of feature amounts of an original image and a smoothed image (S101). Next, the computation device calculates a condition coefficient of the original image and the smoothed image by using the non-linear function for which the shape was determined in S101 (S102). Next, the computation device uses the condition coefficients calculated in S102 to calculate a weighting coefficient for each of the pixels of the original image and the smoothed image (S103). Next, the computation device adds weighting to the original image and the smoothed image to generate the target image (S104).
This biological light measurement device includes: a light irradiation and measurement unit for irradiating a subject with light and measuring light transmitted through the subject; a signal processing unit for processing measurement data of the light irradiation and measurement unit and generating a biological light measurement image; and a position measurement unit for measuring a position at which the light irradiation and measurement unit irradiates the subject with light and a position at which the transmitted light from the subject is extracted. The light irradiation and measurement unit is provided with a plurality of optical fibers, a plurality of optical fiber plugs attached respectively to the plurality of optical fibers, and a holder for holding the plurality of optical fiber plugs, the holder being detachably fixed to a measurement site of the subject. The position measurement unit is provided with a mobile position sensor, and an engagement member attached to the mobile position sensor and shaped to detachably engage with the plurality of optical fiber plugs held by the holder.
A61B 10/00 - Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. for vaccination diagnosis; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
A61B 5/1455 - Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH-value using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
93.
MOBILE X-RAY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TAKING OUT FLAT PLATE DETECTOR
Provided is a structure which enables a flat plate detector such as an FPD to be easily housed in a mobile X-ray device and easily taken out thereof, and does not easily make an impact. The present invention has a configuration in which a box (80) for housing a flat plate detector (5) is disposed on a side surface of a main body (2) of a mobile X-ray device, and the upper surface of a bottom plate of the box (80) is inclined with respect to the ground contact surface of a truck (1) in the front-back direction of the main body (2). Consequently, the inclined upper surface of the bottom plate and the upper end of one side plate (83) are brought into contact with the flat plate detector (5) to thereby support the flat plate detector (5) in an inclined position. When the flat plate detector (5) is taken out of the box (80), the flat plate detector (5) can be taken out while being rotated within a principal plane with the upper end of the side plate (83) that is in contact with the flat plate detector (5) as a fulcrum. Therefore, the flat plate detector (5) can be easily taken out of the box (80) without the need for vertically lifting the flat plate detector and pulling the flat plate detector out of the box (80).
The following are obtained by the present invention: an X-ray CT device enabling the acquisition of measurement images at rotation angles of at least 180 degrees, regardless of the arrangement, movement trajectory, and movement range of an X-ray source and a detector; and highly accurate images. A measurement image detected by the detector is converted to a rotation measurement image obtained by rotationally moving the X-ray source and the detector on a concentric circular trajectory. Weighting, to which is imparted intensity change equal to a reconfiguration image obtained from a rotation measurement image obtained by measurement at the rotation angle range of 180 degrees, is applied to the measurement angles of a rotation measurement image, reconfiguration calculation is carried out, and a reconfiguration image is obtained.
A superconducting magnet device is characterized by comprising forcible quench coils (30A to 40B) that cause AC loss in superconducting coils (10A to 20B) and a switching element (52) that is a switching means for controlling the actuation of the forcible quench coils, wherein the forcible quench coils (30A to 40B) are each disposed corresponding to each of the superconducting coils (10A to 20B). The superconducting magnet device is further characterized in that the turn-on voltage of the switching element (52) is higher than the voltage applied across both ends of the superconducting coil group (10A to 20B) while the superconducting magnet device is performing a rated operation.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
G01R 33/3815 - Systems for generation, homogenisation or stabilisation of the main or gradient magnetic field using electromagnets with superconducting coils, e.g. power supply therefor
H01F 6/02 - Quenching; Protection arrangements during quenching
In order to obtain high quality images easily with a high degree of flexibility in terms of imaging conditions and changes in apparatus configuration in an MRI apparatus using a multi-element coil, the present invention determines the output pattern, which specifies the mode for combining the respective reception signals received by each element configuring the receiving coil, according to the imaging conditions. The determination is performed so that at least one of, for example, the coverage of the image pickup region, the S/N ratio of the final image or the element utilization efficiency is maximized. The output pattern is obtained from information specifying one or more elements, the reception signals of which are to be used, and a combination pattern for combining the reception signals of the elements that are used. The combination pattern is selected, for example, from among multiple combination pattern candidates that are stored in advance according to the combination method.
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
97.
CT IMAGE GENERATION DEVICE AND METHOD AND CT IMAGE GENERATION SYSTEM
A CT image generation device for analyzing projection information acquired by scanning a scan subject with X-rays over a scan plane, and generating an image of the scan subject; wherein the CT image generation device comprises: a versatile processing unit for establishing a plurality of coordinate systems on the scan plane; a coordinate decision unit for selecting a coordinate system to be used in distance drive back projection or distance drive forward projection, from the plurality of coordinate systems on the basis of a projection angle; a distance drive processing unit for carrying out distance drive back projection or distance drive forward projection on the basis of the selected coordinate system, in accordance with the projection angle; and an image information processing unit for generating the image of the scan subject, on the basis of image information acquired by carrying out distance drive back projection in relation to projection information.
To provide a medical image display device and a medical image display method which are suited to an operation of searching for a desired image from among a plurality of types of contiguous images which are arranged on the basis of various physical quantities, a cuboid object (5) which is a set of a plurality of unit lattices is displayed in a display device (17), the three axes of the cuboid object (5) are set to respective axial cross-section locations, a first tense gap (for example, a 5% interval), and a second tense gap which is narrower than the first tense gap (for example, a 1% interval), a contiguous image group is arranged according to these physical quantities, and each image in the contiguous image group is associated one-to-one with each image lattice (50), with same stored in a main memory. When a three-dimensional location is inputted within the cuboid object (5) by an operation of a mouse, etc., a CPU (11) reads from the main memory (12) one or more images corresponding to the one or more unit lattices (50) which are designated by the inputted three-dimensional location, and displays same in an image display region (101).
In order to provide X-ray equipment and X-ray diagnostic imaging equipment, which reduce discomfort caused by heat from air exhaust generated when the X-ray equipment is cooled by air, this X-ray diagnostic imaging equipment is provided with: an X-ray tube device (102) provided with an X-ray tube and an X-ray tube device housing body (402) that houses the X-ray tube; an X-ray image receiving device (103) that detects X-rays generated by the X-ray tube device; and an arm (101) that supports the X-ray tube device (102) and the X-ray image receiving device (103) such that the X-ray tube device (102) and the X-ray image receiving device (103) face each other, said X-ray tube device (102) being positioned at one end of the arm, and said X-ray image receiving device (103) being positioned at the other end of the arm. A first air flow path (104), though which air that has passed through the outer surface of the X-ray tube device housing body (402) flows, is formed inside the arm (101).
A gradient coil comprises: a main coil (5y) which generates a gradient magnetic field, in which the magnetic field strength is made oblique, on the inner side thereof; a shield coil (6y) which is located so as to encircle the main coil (5y) and alleviates external leakage of the gradient magnetic field; and a plurality of interplanar connection wiring (71y, 72y) which is disposed between the main coil (5y) and the shield coil (6y), and which connect each of a plurality of main turns (51y-55y) which the main coil (5y) further comprises with shield turns (61y, 62y), of a plurality of shield turns (61y-66y) which the shield coil (6y) further comprises, which are opposite the main turns (51y, 52y). The direction in which the plurality of interplanar connection wiring (71y, 72y) is arrayed is approximately parallel to the direction of the central axis (z-axis) of the main coil (5y).
A61B 5/055 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
patents
