Abstract: In order to assuredly prevent illegitimate duplication of a program by a simple technique, license information 304 is created as information in the form of a run-time read module in a data processing apparatus by a creation program that self-destructs after being executed, and a program 300 that is installed without the license information and is incomplete without the license information is executed with the license information 304 read during the execution.

Abstract: In order to provide a spin excitation method and apparatus for performing imaging with good efficiency while keeping within an SAR limit, and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus employing such a spin excitation apparatus, an SAR of an object to be imaged in executing a pulse sequence is predicted (704); and at least one among the number of pulses, pulse waveform and pulse width of the RF pulses in the pulse sequence is adjusted (706) so that the predicted SAR value falls within a predetermined limit.

Abstract: For a purpose of improving homogeneity of an image obtained in a self-calibration by a parallel imaging method generally referred to as SENSE (SENSitivity Encoding), sensitivity factors Sn(p) are calculated using an additive image Ab=&Sgr;|Cn| of complex images Cn obtained by conducting a calibration scan of an entire FOV for phased array coils Coil_n (n=1−N, N≧2) (Steps V2, V3). Moreover, sensitivity maps Sn are generated by conducting curve fitting by the method of least squares weighted by the square of a pixel value Ab(P) of the absolute value additive image Ab (Step V4).

Abstract: In order to reduce the amount of computation in the cone beam reconstruction, the invention provides, from within raw data acquired using a multidetector, extracting raw data Dr corresponding to plural lines on reconstruction field (S4), generating projection line data (S5) by multiplying raw data with cone beam reconstruction weight, filtering projection line data to generate image positional line data Df (S6), determining back projection pixel data (S7, S8, S9) of each pixel on the reconstruction field based on the image positional line data, adding, for each pixel, back projection pixel data of all views used for the image reconstruction to determine back projection data (S10, S11). The number of lines may be variable in compliance with a desired image quality.

Abstract: For the purpose of stably securing an apparatus to be installed by a simple process, a positioner for securing to a floor an apparatus having positioning holes for receiving therethrough anchor bolts implanted upright in the floor, the positioning holes having a diameter substantially larger than that of the anchor bolts, comprises: a first cylindrical bushing member 21 having at an eccentric position a through hole 21c of a diameter for rotatably fitting one of the anchor bolts; and a second cylindrical bushing member 20 having at an eccentric position a hole 20c of a diameter for rotatably fitting the first bushing member 21, the second cylindrical bushing member rotatably fitting in one of the positioning holes provided in the apparatus to be positioned.

Abstract: For the purpose of allowing easy perception of the imaging direction of an image produced by post-processing, the present apparatus comprises: data acquiring means (33-40) for acquiring three-dimensional image data on a subject to be imaged based on ultrasound using an ultrasonic transceiver; specifying means (33, 37) for specifying a simulative imaging direction based on spatial information with respect to a hand instrument that is manually operated; and image producing means (44, 46) for producing an image corresponding to an image captured in the simulative imaging direction based on the three-dimensional image data.

Abstract: For the purpose of enabling proper imaging of the prostate, a first saddle coil 210 having two loop portions of a geometry suited for sandwiching the lower abdomen of a human body from the anterior and posterior sides with the two loop portions facing each other, and a second saddle coil 310 having two loop portions of a geometry suited for allowing the lower limbs of the human body to be inserted into the two loop portions, and sandwiching the lower abdomen from the right and left sides with the two loop portions facing each other, are quadrature-arranged so that the phases of magnetic resonance received signals are different by 90°, thus achieving imaging of the lower abdomen of the human body with a high S/N.

Abstract: For the purpose of reducing the load on hardware for driving a two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe having a multiplicity of transducers, the present invention comprises programmable gain amplifiers a00-a99 for amplifying signal voltages e00-e99 from transducers in a two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe, voltage-to-current converters h00-h99 for converting the voltages into current signals i00-i99, a matrix switch M for outputting additive current signals I0-I9 obtained by dividing the current signals i00-i99 into groups and adding current signals in respective groups, current-to-voltage converters H0-H9 for converting the currents into voltage signals, programmable gain amplifiers A0-A9, A-D converters C0-C9, and a digital beamformer unit B for conducting reception beamforming using digital signals D0-D9 and outputting an acoustic line signal W.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to acquire transmitted X-ray data by irradiating X-rays of appropriate doses determined for the portions of a section containing the major axis and the portions thereof containing the minor axis respectively. An X-ray irradiating/detecting device consists mainly of an X-ray irradiator that includes an X-ray tube and irradiates a fan-shaped X-ray beam, and an X-ray detector that has a plurality of X-ray detecting elements arrayed in a direction in which the fan-shaped X-ray beam spreads and that is opposed to the X-ray irradiator with an object of imaging between them. The X-ray irradiating/detecting device is rotated about the object in order to acquire transmission X-ray data stemming from a plurality of views. At this time, the dose of the X-ray beam is differentiated between predetermined angular ranges of a section of the object shaped like an oval, which extend with the minor axis of the oval section as a centerline, and the other angular ranges.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic system, which is intended to perform the wireless communication of ultrasonic diagnostic information within the speed range of general-purpose data communication standards, is arranged in a first and second units. The first unit includes ultrasonic wave transmit/receive means which transmits an ultrasonic wave and receives the echo of the wave, data generation means which produces digital diagnostic data based on the received echo, data compression means which compresses the digital data, and data communication means which sends out the compressed data in wireless manner. The second unit includes data communication means which receives the transmitted data, data expansion means which expands the received data, and information generation means which produces display information from the expanded data.

Abstract: For the purpose of acquiring magnetic resonance signals unaffected by any high magnetic field disturbance, magnetic resonance signals are sequentially acquired for a plurality of views (802); magnetic field disturbance is monitored (806); the magnetic resonance signal acquisition is repeated for a view at which magnetic field disturbance has occurred (808); and an image is produced based on magnetic resonance signals after the repetition has been applied (804).

Abstract: For the purpose of changing the geometry of and spacing between loop coils incorporated into an RF coil without moving the RF coil, loops 200-220 having a geometry optimized for a square sum method employing a phased array, and second small loops 202-222 having a geometry optimized for a sensitivity encoding method are switched by switching elements 24-54 and 25-55 for an open/close operation using a diode 330, and at the same time, first decoupling means 230 and 231 and second decoupling means 240 and 241 are switched. Thus, an operator is not required to replace the RF coil positioned on a cradle, and the loops 200-220 for the square sum method employing a phased array and the second small loops for the sensitivity encoding method can be switched by electronic switching and can be used as RF coils.

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: For the purpose of providing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for improving ease of operation by effectively utilizing two display devices, at least two display modes are defined. In the first display mode, arithmetic control/signal processing means 11 controls video signal processing means 18 to display an ultrasonic diagnostic image based on ultrasonic reflection signals stored in an image memory 16 on a CRT device 30 as a monitor display device, and controls video signal processing means 17 to display operation-indicating items for the operation relating to ultrasonic diagnosis on an LCD device 40, and conducts task processing for ultrasonic diagnosis in response to an operation detected by position detecting means in a touch panel 42.

Abstract: For the purpose of reducing a deviation in the rotational center of scan and a deviation in scan position in the direction of length of a rail, a gantry system including a pair of runway rails and a gantry in an X-ray CT system that can move along the runway rails, is characterized by comprising a linear guide rail arranged in the direction along the runway rails and linear guide blocks mounted on the gantry and slidably fitted on the linear guide rail.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing timely and efficient maintenance services even when a system includes machines that are not covered by maintenance services, in a system comprising a center server (202) for customer management and a client terminal (104) owned by a customer, communicatably connected to each other via a network (50), the client terminal (104) stores management information including lease contract information (S2) and issues an event to the center server (202) in accordance with the content of the collected management information (S14). The center server (202) analyzes the content of the event received from the client terminal (104) (S22) and makes a notice of the content of the analyzed event (S24).

Abstract: An MRI apparatus, which is intended to produce a diffusion-weighted image in a short scan time without being affected by as light motion of the subject, applies an excitation RF pulse R90 and a slice-select pulse S1, next applies an MPG pulse MPG1, next applies an inverted RF pulse R180 and a slice-select pulse S2, and next applies an MPG pulse MPG2. Subsequently, the apparatus applies a read pulse RDx to one read axis (x-direction) and a read pulse RDy to another read axis (y-direction) so that the vector-composed read gradient has a direction of angle &thgr;i of a virtual radial line on the slice plane, and collects data for imaging from echoes e. The apparatus implements once or repeats the series of pulse application and data collection while inverting the polarity of the read pulses RDx and RDy and varying the areas of the read pulses RDx and RDy thereby to vary the angle &thgr;i so that the echoes e settle, thereby collecting data necessary for image reconstruction.

Abstract: In order to facilitate appropriate biopsy puncture in magnetic resonance imaging, a puncture needle support tool has a base member 610 attached to an RF coil 200, a slider 630 attached to the base member movably in parallel to the axis of the RF coil, and a puncture needle guide 636 having a puncture needle through hole 638 and an MR marker 640 disposed in parallel to the through hole, capable of linearly moving in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction on the slider and of rotatively moving in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the RF coil.

Abstract: In order to obtain good linearity without reducing efficiency in generating a magnetic field, a winding pattern of one semicircular spiral is assumed; an electric current distribution is expressed by a continuous function Jx(x) such that an x-axis electric current distribution profile does not lie in both the positive and negative polarities; parameters of the continuous function Jx(x) are optimized so that desired linearity can be obtained; and a position of a straight-line portion 1Xt1L of the semicircular spiral is determined so that the electric current distribution profile given by the optimized continuous function Jx(x) is fulfilled. The resulting pattern is symmetrically duplicated to generate a gradient coil unit 1Xt, and a plurality of the gradient coil units 1Xt are combined to form a gradient coil.

Abstract: In order to obtain an image with artifacts suppressed when a helical scan is conducted employing a multi-row detector with a scan plane tilted, preprocessing such as sensitivity correction is applied to data collected by a helical scan employing a multi-row detector with a scan plane tilted (S1), tilt correcting processing is applied for correcting view-to-view variation of the positions of channels in the detector rows relative to an axis of translation due to the tilt of the scan plane (S2), multi-slice/helical interpolation processing is applied for calculating interpolated data from proximate data in an image reconstruction plane (S3), and backprojection processing is applied to the interpolated data to produce an image (S4).