Abstract: For the purpose of always keeping the positional relationship fixed between a support section for supporting a supported object and a base section for receiving the support section, the present apparatus comprises: a support section 500 for horizontally supporting a supported object; a base section 112 having a horizontal plane on its top; and a position adjusting section 300 provided between the support section and the base section, for moving the support section forward/backward between a position above the horizontal plane and a position off the horizontal plane while keeping the support section at a level higher than the horizontal plane, and for moving the support section upward/downward between a position higher than the horizontal plane and a position lower than the horizontal plane at the position off the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A method for transporting a source pin in a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) system having a transmission ring includes aligning the transmission ring with a source pin within a storage device having a magnetic force holding the source pin in place, and moving the source pin from the storage device to the transmission ring using a magnetic force greater than the magnetic force of the storage device.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing a backprojection method and an X-ray CT apparatus by which backprojection processing can be simplified and sped up, instead of obtaining backprojection pixel data D2(x, y) directly from projection data D0 (view, ch), axially projected data D1 (view, pt) are obtained from projection data D0 (view, ch) by projecting them onto a straight line, and then backprojection pixel data D2 are obtained from the axially projected data D1.

Abstract: In order to allow operation of key switches without awkwardly bending the elbow or wrist, and arranging key switches aesthetically in the appearance design while preventing confusion in operation and eliminating dead space within the area occupied by the key switches, key switches 1-1-1-6 are arranged horizontally in a row slantingly with respect to the horizontal and vertical directions of an operation panel 101.

Abstract: For the purpose of allowing confirmation of time progress during a run of a contrast agent protocol and the like on a display screen, time elapsed after freeze-off and time duration of freeze are displayed in a contrast agent protocol display region. In an elapsed-time-after-injection display region, time elapsed from the time of contrast agent injection is displayed. In a countdown display region, time remaining up to a scheduled time for the next operation to be made by an operator is calculated and displayed.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an X-ray generating apparatus which permits easy alignment of an X-ray tube and easy insulation against high voltages. A screw through hole and pin through holes corresponding respectively to a screw hole and plural pin holes formed in an end face of a base portion of an X-ray tube are formed in an abutment face of a bracket against which the end face of the base portion of the X-ray tube comes into abutment, and a screw and plural pins are inserted respectively from the bracket side into the screw hole and plural pin holes in the X-ray tube through the screw through hole and the pin through holes, thereby mounting the X-ray tube to the bracket. The bracket is formed by an integral structure of FR 4.

Abstract: It is an X-ray generating apparatus having an X-ray shielding means superior in thermal conductivity. The X-ray generating apparatus comprises an X-ray tube, an X-ray tube container, and a support member which is constructed of an electrically insulating material and which supports the X-ray tube within the X-ray tube container, the X-ray tube container being constituted by a combination of copper alloy plates with lead incorporated therein and a plate of a composite material, the composite material being formed by laminating lead and epoxy laminated glass cloth sheets so as to include an intermediate layer of lead, the X-ray tube container having an aperture (for X-ray emission and containing the X-ray tube so as to prevent the emission of X-ray from any other portion than the aperture.

Abstract: In order to allow easy estimation of the operating condition of a magnet by a technician of any skill level, and to allow accurate prediction of a potential failure beforehand, a data processing section 52 is provided for resolving pressure data for a cooling helium gas, level (remaining amount) data for a liquid helium, first temperature data for a first stage of a refrigerator, second temperature data for a second stage of the refrigerator, and third temperature (room temperature) data for an equipment room 13 in which a compressor 40 is placed, as prespecified parameters, into a plurality of elements, using the elements as magnet data, calculating the Mahalanobis distance D2 of the normalized magnet data, and comparing the calculated Mahalanobis distance D2 with data stored in a database 53 obtained by developing magnet data in a normal condition into a Mahalanobis reference space to estimate the operating condition.

Abstract: For the purpose of improve rendering capability for a blood vessel, an MR. image producing method comprises: window-processing MR signals using a window function f(k) that has a “value less than one” at a center (O) and in its proximate region in a k-space and on a periphery and in its proximate region in the k-space, and has a value larger than the “value less than one” between the regions in which the window function has the “value less than one;” and applying Fourier-transformation processing to the window-processed MR signals to obtain an MR image.

Abstract: For the purpose of identifying the phases of water and fat in a complex image captured using magnetic resonance, a complex image G1 is divided into a multiplicity of sections; if the phases of water and fat can be identified from a phase histogram of one section Sc, the phases of water and fat are obtained from a phase histogram of the section; if the phases cannot be identified, phase histograms of proximate sections in a predefined range C1 are added; if the phases of water and fat can be identified from the additive phase histogram, the phases of water and fat are obtained from the additive phase histogram; and if the phases cannot be identified, the same processing is repeated with stepwise enlargement of the predefined range.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing an image of an object includes generating a plurality of projection data, helically interpolating the projection data, rebinning the helically interpolated projection data from a fan-beam format to a parallel-beam format, and reconstructing an image of the object using the parallel-beam format projection data.

Abstract: The present invention aims at making it possible to successfully achieve fast recovery during magnetic resonance imaging in which the fast spin echo technique combined with the inversion recovery technique is implemented. A 180° x pulse is applied in order to excite spins. Thereafter, when an inversion time TI has elapsed, a 90° x pulse is applied in order to excite the spins. Thereafter, when a half of a time esp has elapsed, a 180° y pulse is applied in order to excite the spins. Thereafter, when the time esp has elapsed, the 180° y pulse is applied an odd number of times in order to sequentially excite the spins. Thereafter, when a half of the time esp has elapsed, the 90° x pulse is applied in order to excite the spins.

Abstract: According to various aspects of the invention, a transducer is manufactured by providing a substrate assembly, making major element cuts in the substrate assembly in a first direction, making minor element cuts in the substrate assembly in a second direction, positioning a plurality of signal lines (such as a flex circuit) on the substrate assembly such that the plurality of signal lines is aligned with said minor element cuts, and making major element cuts in the substrate assembly in the second direction after said plurality of signal lines is positioned.

Abstract: A method for operating a radiation source includes providing a radiation source, providing a detector, and operating the radiation source and the detector such that the detector receives a substantially homogenous noise distribution.

Abstract: For the purpose of reducing exposure of a subject to unnecessary radiation by controlling the tube current according to the X-ray emitting direction with respect to a region to be examined in the subject, a transmission area S is calculated from a cross-sectional plane (S801) and an ellipticity R is calculated for the cross-sectional plane (S802, S803). An image SD of a region having the transmission area S is then calculated (S804), and a SD ratio of a region having the ellipticity R is calculated (S805). An image SD of a region having the transmission area S and ellipticity R is then calculated using the image SD and the SD ratio (S806).

Abstract: A method for reconstructing an image of an object utilizing a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system is provided. The CT system includes a radiation source and a multislice detector array on a rotating gantry, with the radiation source configured to project a beam of radiation through an object and towards. the multislice detector array. The multislice detector array is configured to sense attenuation of the radiation passing through the object. The method for reconstructing an image includes helically scanning an object with a computed tomographic imaging system to acquire a plurality of views of projection data at a plurality of gantry angles and a plurality of cone angles, generating a plurality of cone angle dependent weights that are inversely correlated to an absolute value of a cone angle, and weighting the projection data using the cone angle dependent weights.

Abstract: In order to reduce the number of components to achieve size reduction of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 101 is provided with a power supply section 3 comprised of a bias power supply 4 for generating a bias voltage and a driving power supply 5 for generating a driving voltage using the bias voltage. The bias voltage is higher than the driving voltage. Since the driving power supply 5 merely generates a lower voltage based upon a higher voltage, it is simpler in configuration and smaller in size than the conventional type that independently generates the voltages.

Abstract: A MRI RF coil for use on a human leg having a knee, ankle and foot. The coil includes a knee coil section and a foot/ankle coil section. The sections are configurable into a boot-like structure.

Abstract: For the purposes of improving stability of an RF system, improving efficiency of cooling, and fully retaining an examination region in an MRI apparatus, a lower first-direction RF coil and an upper first-direction RF coil are connected to form a first-direction electromagnetic wave transmitting/receiving section, and a lower second-direction RF coil and an upper second-direction RE coil are connected to form a second-direction electromagnetic wave transmitting/receiving section, so that the phase of electromagnetic waves in two orthogonal directions is controlled by a 2-channel phase control section. Moreover, coil elements for the RF coils are disposed inside an examination region, control devices are disposed outside the examination region, and cooling sections are disposed near the control devices.

Abstract: The present invention is, in one embodiment, a method for efficiently and reliably communicating button presses electronically on a network from one or more push button nodes each having at least one push button, to a master node. This method includes steps of: generating status messages indicative of a push button states at each of push button node; communicating the status messages to the master node via the network; determining, at the master node, the state of the push buttons at each of the push button nodes from the communicated status messages; and triggering a response of the master node, in accordance with the statuses of the push buttons determined from the communicated status messages.