Patents by Inventor Hironori Ueki
Hironori Ueki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 9888902Abstract: In X-ray CT devices, degradation of quantitative determination ability for CT values resulting from the beam hardening (BH) effect of X-ray is prevented. X-ray absorption characteristic S obtained by simulation and a target value T thereof are saved beforehand, the simulation value S is revised by using projection data measured by maintenance measurement for obtaining basic data required for BH correction, and a BH correction coefficient is calculated by using the revised X-ray absorption characteristic S and the target value T. With a few actually measured values, BH correction accuracy can be improved, and reduction of incorrect diagnosis resulting from inhomogeneity of the CT values and improvement in the diagnostic ability based on improvement in quantitative determination ability for the CT values can be realized.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2012Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hironori Ueki, Fumito Watanabe
-
Patent number: 9818182Abstract: 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. 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hironori Ueki, Yushi Tsubota
-
Patent number: 9592021Abstract: The background projection data of a background region CT image in the X-ray emission path is calculated. Using measurement projection data and background projection data, the measurement projection data of local regions is calculated. Local region CT images are calculated on the basis of local measurement projection data, and the projection data of a local region CT image in the X-ray emission path is calculated. On the basis of local calculation projection data and local measurement projection data, local CT images are iteratively corrected. When creating background region CT images or calculating background projection data, the cause of calculation accuracy deterioration is eliminated by the use of processing such as smoothing, and without deterioration of CT value accuracy in regions other than the target region, a high-quality CT image is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Keisuke Yamakawa, Hironori Ueki, Yukiko Ueki
-
Patent number: 9508142Abstract: An X-ray detector (320), configured to have X-ray detecting elements (322) arranged in array, detects the intensity of X-rays that are radiated from the X-ray tube (311) and have passed through a subject (500). A data processing device (420) executes steps of: arranging scan data, which is based on the intensity of X-rays, in an array sequence of the X-ray detecting elements (322) or in a time sequence, to detect an anomalous scan data; associating a weight greater than “1” with scan data adjacent to the anomalous scan data, and associating a weight of “1” with other imaging data; calculating an update amount of a pixel vector that reflects these weights; and performing an iterative operation using the update amount to generate an X-ray CT image of the subject (500).Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2013Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Hitachi Medical CorporationInventors: Shinichi Kojima, Keisuke Yamakawa, Hisashi Takahashi, Hironori Ueki
-
Patent number: 9482629Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus includes: an X-ray generating unit configured to generate an X ray; an X-ray detecting unit including a plurality of X-ray detectors, each configured to detect the X ray generated from the X-ray generating unit and transmitted through an object; and an image generating unit configured to correct and reconstruct signals acquired by the X-ray detecting unit. While crosstalk correction of a plurality of the X-ray detectors is performed at the image generating unit, correction of a locally attenuating component is previously performed and correction of a whole component of the crosstalk is performed when the image is reconstructed.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Kojima, Fumito Watanabe, Hironori Ueki, Yasutaka Konno, Yushi Tsubota, Yukiko Ueki
-
Patent number: 9380987Abstract: In order to suppress reduction in sensitivity when acquiring high-resolution data, an X-ray CT device is provided with an X-ray source that irradiates a patient with X-rays, and an X-ray detector that detects the X-rays. The X-ray detector includes a plurality of detection elements (scintillators and photodiodes) arrayed in a first direction, and a plurality of separators that separate the detection elements arrayed in the first direction respectively from each other. The separators each have a first-direction width which is a width in the first direction, first-direction widths of some separators each arrayed every predetermined number of separators being different from first-direction widths of the other separators.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Hitachi Medical CorporationInventors: Shinichi Kojima, Fumito Watanabe, Hironori Ueki, Yasutaka Konno, Yushi Tsubota
-
Patent number: 9319598Abstract: A personal identification system, which uses a vein pattern of a finger, optimizes the amount of light of a light source based on a captured finger image and emphasizes the vein pattern during image processing for identification.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2015Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Miyuki Kono, Shin-ichiro Umemura, Takafumi Miyatake, Kunio Harada, Yoshitoshi Ito, Hironori Ueki
-
Patent number: 9307949Abstract: It is an object to prevent a poor X-ray CT image due to scattered X-rays. An X-ray CT scanner (100) uses an X-ray detector (4), etc., to scan (F1) an object (3) to obtain X-ray transmission image data, and estimate (F3) an X-ray absorption coefficient distribution inside the object (3) based on the scanned X-ray transmission image data. Next, the X-ray CT scanner (100) performs a Monte Carlo simulation on a simulated object (3) having the X-ray absorption coefficient distribution estimated, and estimates (F4 and F7) a point spread function or scattered X-ray distribution derived from the object. Then, the X-ray CT scanner (100) corrects (F5 and F8), based on the point spread function or scattered X-ray distribution estimated, the X-ray transmission image data, and finally creates (F6 and F9) an image of the X-ray absorption coefficient distribution of the object (3).Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATIONInventors: Yushi Tsubota, Fumito Watanabe, Hironori Ueki, Yasutaka Konno, Shinichi Kojima
-
Publication number: 20150324973Abstract: 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 scanning 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2013Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Hironori UEKI, Yushi TSUBOTA
-
Publication number: 20150324626Abstract: A personal identification system, which uses a vein pattern of a finger, optimizes the amount of light of a light source based on a captured finger image and emphasizes the vein pattern during image processing for identification.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Miyuki KONO, Shin-ichiro UMEMURA, Takafumi MIYATAKE, Kunio HARADA, Yoshitoshi ITO, Hironori UEKI
-
Patent number: 9155508Abstract: In a multi-source X-ray CT scanner having multiple X-ray sources, an imaging FOV size is fixed. In the X-ray CT scanner, a position of at least one of multiple X-ray generators is movable in the Z-axis direction (in the rotation axis direction). It is further possible to configure such that while shifting the X-ray generator, the rotation speed of the rotating plate is kept to be a predetermined value or less. Highly precise CT measurement is implemented as to various imaging FOV sizes, without exposing the test subject to ineffective radiation.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2011Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATIONInventors: Hironori Ueki, Yukiko Ueki
-
Patent number: 9118839Abstract: A personal identification system, which uses a vein pattern of a finger, optimizes the amount of light of a light source based on a captured finger image and emphasizes the vein pattern during image processing for identification.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Miyuki Kono, Shin-ichiro Umemura, Takafumi Miyatake, Kunio Harada, Yoshitoshi Ito, Hironori Ueki
-
Publication number: 20150221085Abstract: An X-ray detector (320), configured to have X-ray detecting elements (322) arranged in array, detects the intensity of X-rays that are radiated from the X-ray tube (311) and have passed through a subject (500). A data processing device (420) executes steps of arranging scan data, which is based on the intensity of X-rays, in an array sequence of the X-ray detecting elements (322) or in a time sequence, to detect an anomalous scan data; associating a weight greater than “1” with scan data adjacent to the anomalous scan data, and associating a weight of “1” with other imaging data; calculating an update amount of a pixel vector that reflects these weights; and performing an iterative operation using the update amount to generate an X-ray CT image of the subject (500).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2013Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: Shinichi Kojima, Keisuke Yamakawa, Hisashi Takahashi, Hironori Ueki
-
Publication number: 20140328452Abstract: It is an object to prevent a poor X-ray CT image due to scattered X-rays. An X-ray CT scanner (100) uses an X-ray detector (4), etc., to scan (F1) an object (3) to obtain X-ray transmission image data, and estimate (F3) an X-ray absorption coefficient distribution inside the object (3) based on the scanned X-ray transmission image data. Next, the X-ray CT scanner (100) performs a Monte Carlo simulation on a simulated object (3) having the X-ray absorption coefficient distribution estimated, and estimates (F4 and F7) a point spread function or scattered X-ray distribution derived from the object. Then, the X-ray CT scanner (100) corrects (F5 and F8), based on the point spread function or scattered X-ray distribution estimated, the X-ray transmission image data, and finally creates (F6 and F9) an image of the X-ray absorption coefficient distribution of the object (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2012Publication date: November 6, 2014Applicant: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATIONInventors: Yushi Tsubota, Fumito Watanabe, Hironori Ueki, Yasutaka Konno, Shinichi Kojima
-
Publication number: 20140321608Abstract: In X-ray CT devices, degradation of quantitative determination ability for CT values resulting from the beam hardening (BH) effect of X-ray is prevented. X-ray absorption characteristic S obtained by simulation and a target value T thereof are saved beforehand, the simulation value S is revised by using projection data measured by maintenance measurement for obtaining basic data required for BH correction, and a BH correction coefficient is calculated by using the revised X-ray absorption characteristic S and the target value T. With a few actually measured values, BH correction accuracy can be improved, and reduction of incorrect diagnosis resulting from inhomogeneity of the CT values and improvement in the diagnostic ability based on improvement in quantitative determination ability for the CT values can be realized.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2012Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATIONInventors: Hironori Ueki, Fumito Watanabe
-
Publication number: 20140321610Abstract: In order to suppress reduction in sensitivity when acquiring high-resolution data, an X-ray CT device is provided with an X-ray source that irradiates a patient with X-rays, and an X-ray detector that detects the X-rays. The X-ray detector includes a plurality of detection elements (scintillators and photodiodes) arrayed in a first direction, and a plurality of separators that separate the detection elements arrayed in the first direction respectively from each other. The separators each have a first-direction width which is a width in the first direction, first-direction widths of some separators each arrayed every predetermined number of separators being different from first-direction widths of the other separators.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2012Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Hironori Ueki, Shinichi Kojima, Fumito Watanabe, Yasutaka Konno, Yushi Tsubota
-
Patent number: 8861826Abstract: A view image of high time resolution acquired in an imaging process of X-ray CT is displayed. In this display, by subtracting a background image obtained by forward projection calculation of a CT image from the view image, background is removed from the view image, and only a focused site is imaged. A transmission image of the focused site showing high display contrast and not easily influenced by a motion artifact can be thereby obtained. Thereby, in an X-ray CT device for diagnostic imaging, degradation of diagnostic ability due to motion artifacts can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Medical CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Irie, Hironori Ueki, Keisuke Yamakawa
-
Publication number: 20140240480Abstract: A personal identification system, which uses a vein pattern of a finger, optimizes the amount of light of a light source based on a captured finger image and emphasizes the vein pattern during image processing for identification.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2014Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Miyuki KONO, Shin-ichiro Umemura, Takafumi Miyatake, Kunio Harada, Yoshitoshi Ito, Hironori Ueki
-
Patent number: 8774350Abstract: Scattered X-rays scattered by an object or a structure enter in a detector (a shift detector) for detecting the positional shift of an X-ray focal point and become a noise source, thereby deteriorating the positional shift detection precision. In particular, the estimation of the dose of scattered X-rays originating from the object is difficult prior to the measurement, and correction of the scattered X-rays is important in order to precisely calculate the positional shift of the X-ray focal point. In order to address this drawback, according to the present invention, a scattered X-ray detector 6 is provided which measures the dose of scattered rays entering in a shift detector 5 for detecting the positional shift of an X-ray focal point 9, and has a function that the output by the shift detector 5 is corrected using the scattered ray dose measured by the scattered X-ray detector.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Medical CorporationInventors: Yushi Tsubota, Fumito Watanabe, Hironori Ueki, Yasutaka Konno, Shinichi Kojima, Atsuro Suzuki
-
Patent number: 8767195Abstract: A personal identification system, which uses a vein pattern of a finger, optimizes the amount of light of a light source based on a captured finger image and emphasizes the vein pattern during image processing for identification.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Miyuki Kono, Shin-ichiro Umemura, Takahumi Miyatake, Kunio Harada, Yoshitoshi Ito, Hironori Ueki