Abstract: In a three-dimensional image shading method using a volume rendering algorithm, the amount of light incident to a view plane from voxels of a predetermined value or above is determined by modulating the amount of light incident to the voxels by a function of sin .THETA., where .THETA. is the angle of the surfaces of CT slices to a perpendicular line drawn from an arbitrarily selected origin of an orthogonal three-dimensional coordinate system on the view plane.

Abstract: In a scattered X-ray correction method for an X-ray computerized tomograph, the quantity of X-rays passed through a phantom is measured to be converted into logarithms. Obtained from the logarithmic data is a scattered X-ray correction curve representing a relationship between the measured data in the logarithmic expression and an amount of scattered X-ray correction. For a subject, the quantity of X-rays penetrated therethrough is measured to be transformed into logarithms. From the measured data undergone the logarithmic conversion and the scattered X-ray correction curve, there is attained a scattered X-ray correction amount in a linear region which is the state before the logarithmic conversion. The measured data of the subject in the logarithmic expression is subjected to an inverse logarithmic conversion.

Abstract: An external trigger method in a magnetic resonance inspection apparatus includes the steps of inputting collectively imaging control data including an imaging portion of a subject, the kind of sequences, a time interval between the sequences and the number of times of repetition of the sequences, executing a pre-processing sequence corresponding to the imaging sequence set to be first executed, and checking whether the time interval until the start of the imaging sequence to be next executed is set to a predetermined value. The imaging sequence is started by an external trigger when the time interval is set to the indefinite value. The imaging sequence is started after the passage of the time of the predetermined value when the time interval is set to the predetermined value.

Abstract: An inspection method by means of an inspection apparatus using nuclear magnetic resonance and having magnetic field generating apparatus for generating a static magnetic field, gradient magnetic fields and an RF magnetic field; magnetic field generating apparatus by means of additional shim coils, which vary homogeneity of the static magnetic field by varying current flowing therethrough; signal detecting apparatus for detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals from an object to be inspected; an apparatus for processing signals detected by the signal detecting apparatus; and control apparatus for controlling currents flowing through the shim coils, which method using nuclear magnetic resonance comprises a step of storing shim currents corresponding to each of a plurality of slices, capable of improving homogeneity of the static magnetic field for each of the plurality of slices, and a step of switching over the shim currents to those corresponding to a relevant slice to be measured prior to measurements of

Abstract: In order to image an object larger than a field of view for observation, imaging is effected by dividing it into several times and pictures thus imaged are synthesized to constitute a whole image. In order to image several times, only a detecting unit is moved and an X-ray source is substantially fixed with respect to the object. Images thus obtained include a common part of the object and are joined so that the common part are overlapped on each other. In case where an image pick-up tube is included in the detecting unit, the image pick-up tube is made operable, after a period of time necessary for attenuation of microphonic noise has lapsed, measured from a point of time where the detecting unit has been stopped.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus using magnetic resonance includes magnetic field generators for generating a static magnetic field, a gradient magnetic field and a radio frequency magnetic field, respectively, a signal detector for detecting magnetic resonance signals from an inspected object, a computer for executing arithmetic operations for detection signals from the signal detector and an output device of the result of the arithmetic operations by the computer. The gradient magnetic field generator includes first and second gradient coils, the first gradient coil is a coil fixed to a magnet for generating a static magnetic field, the second gradient coil is a movable coil, and the magnetic field generated by the second gradient coil at a conducting portion of the magnet is offset by the magnetic field generated by the first gradient coil. According to this construction, an eddy current that occurs with the time change of the gradient magnetic field can be reduced.

Abstract: An X-ray apparatus for collecting X-ray transmission data of a subject from a plurality of directions to generate an X-ray transmission image or X-ray CT image of the subject, which includes an X-ray generator for generating an X-ray, an X-ray detector for detecting a transmission X-ray after the X-ray generated by the X-ray generator is transmitted through the subject, a rotation unit for rotating an imaging unit including the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector around the subject, a data collector for converting an output signal of the X-ray detector to a digital signal and collecting the digital signal, a signal processor for subjecting data collected by the data collector to a signal processing operation, a display for displaying thereon as an image the data collected by the data collector and the data subjected by the signal processor to the signal processing operation, and a position change unit for moving a relative position of a rotation center of the imaging unit and the subject in a direction par

Abstract: An ultrasound signal processor for receiving an ultrasound signal from a testing body by a plurality of electro-magnetic transducer elements and processing a plurality of received signals to obtain information of the interior of the testing body is provided with analog-digital converters for sampling at least two of received analog signals, multipliers for multiplying the outputs of the analog-digital converters by first complex digital reference signals, first low-pass filters for limiting the signal bands of the outputs of the multipliers, first complex multipliers for multiplying the outputs of the first low-pass filters by second complex digital reference signals, adders for performing the addition of the outputs of the first complex multipliers for real signals and the addition thereof for imaginary signals, memory devices for storing the outputs of the adders, second complex multipliers for multiplying signals read from the memory devices by third complex digital reference signals, and second low-pass f

Abstract: A probe for an MRI apparatus in a vertical magnetic field system including: an array coil which is formed by arranging a plurality of unit coils, which can be driven independently of one another, in a direction perpendicularly intersecting a direction of a static magnetic field; and a compensating coil which forms a magnetic field in a direction perpendicularly intersecting both a direction of a magnetic field formed by the array coil and the direction of the magnetic field, a signal detected by the array coil and a signal detected by the compensating coil being composed so as to be in phase with each other, thereby to be outputted.

Abstract: An X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes a controller for shifting an X-ray focal spot position of an X-ray source, a plurality of first temporary holding devices respectively connected to X-ray detector elements to temporarily hold measured values of X-ray intensity transmitted through an object to be incident on the X-ray detector elements, a switch device for switching over connection between the X-ray detector elements and the first temporary holding devices, a controller for controlling switchover of the switch device, a transfer device for transferring the measured values from the first temporary holding devices to an interpolation calculating device, an interpolation calculating device for performing interpolation calculations on the projection data to generate projection data equivalent to projection data measured by using a measuring system virtually having twice as many X-ray detector elements as the arranged X-ray detector elements, a memory for holding parameters used for calculations in th

Abstract: A moving-picture display method in which a stacked region of a plurality of planar images is changed, a three-dimensional image is constructed corresponding to each changed stacked region, projected three-dimensional images on a desirably set viewing plane are determined from the constructed three-dimensional images, and obtained projected three-dimensional images are sequentially displayed in order of stacked regions which sequentially increase or decrease in size.

Abstract: In an inspection method which generates a static magnetic field, a gradient magnetic field and a radio frequency magnetic field, detects nuclear magnetic resonance signals from an inspection object, computes and processes the nuclear magnetic resonance signals so detected and outputs the result of computation processing, a gradient magnetic field for generating signal attenuation by diffusion and an oscillating gradient magnetic field for generating chemical shift information and spatial information of the materials contained in the inspection object are applied, separation and acquisition of spatial information of each material contained in the inspection object are simultaneously conducted, and a measurement time is shortened.

Abstract: A noise filtering method including the steps of calculating a magnitude E.sub.i of density change for each of a plurality of linear direction components i in a local region around each of pixels of an inputted two-dimensional image, detecting such a direction as to minimize the magnitude E.sub.i of density change, conducting smoothing processing by deriving an arithmetic mean of densities of pixels in the local region arranged in the detected direction, and thereby reducing noise of the inputted image.

Abstract: An RF probe including: two coils for detecting MR signals which are arranged at positions which face each other at a predetermined distance; an apparatus for changing a distance between those coils; and an apparatus for reducing a high frequency coupling between the two coils which is caused due to a change in distance between the coils, in accordance with the distance between the coils.

Abstract: Physical quantities representing six kinds of freedom relating to parallel movement and rotation of an inspection object are detected during repetition of a measurement sequence of magnetic resonance imaging, and a direction and a position of a desired slice moved with parallel movement and rotation of the inspection object are calculated in accordance with the detection result. An intensity ratio of gradient magnetic fields in x-, y- and z-axes directions for synthesizing a slice direction gradient magnetic field, an intensity of a phase encoder gradient magnetic field and a read direction gradient magnetic field are determined so that a direction of an excitation slice coincides with the direction of the desired slice after movement. Similarly, a center frequency of excitation pulses is determined so that a position of the excitation slice coincides with the position of the desired slice after movement. Magnetic resonance signals are measured by imaging parameters so updated, and an image is reconstructed.

Abstract: A radio frequency pulse to excite nuclei constituting an object to be imaged, a slice selecting gradient magnetic field pulse applied when the radio frequency magnetic field pulse is applied, a phase encoding gradient magnetic pulse, a frequency encoding gradient magnetic field pulse are applied to the object to be imaged placed in a static magnetic field. Then the generated nuclear magnetic resonance signals are detected many times to form an image of the internal structure of the object to be imaged using the detected signals. In this occasion, the amplitude of the slice selecting gradient magnetic field pulse or the width of the radio frequency pulse is changed corresponding to the amount of phase encoding given by the phase encoding gradient magnetic field pulse. In multi-slice imaging for detecting the signals from a plurality of slices spatially laminated, part of the signals are used in common between the slices adjacent to each other when two-dimensional images of those slices are reconstructed.

Abstract: An object is repeatedly excited by a 90-degree pulse and a plurality of spin echoes are obtained by a 180-degree pulse each time the excitation is repeated. The spin echoes are differently phase-encoded and the spin echoes thus generated are assigned to a substantial half portion of a raw image data space in a phase-encoding direction, the remaining substantial half of data being estimated from the data in that portion. The data covering the raw image data space are used to produce a corresponding image of the object.

Abstract: In magnetic resonance imaging, a first echo train is obtained by applying a readout gradient magnetic field to a region of interest to be imaged and periodically inverting the polarity of the readout gradient magnetic field, without applying an encoding gradient magnetic field to the region of interest. A periodic change of phase shift of the first echo train is detected from the first echo train. Information indicating phase shifts of all of the echoes in the first echo train is obtained using the periodic change of phase shift. A second echo train is obtained by applying a readout gradient magnetic field and an encoding magnetic field to the region of interest and periodically inverting the polarity of the readout gradient magnetic field. Phases of echoes in the second echo train are corrected using the information indicating phase shifts of all of the echoes in the first echo train.

Abstract: When CT imaging is effected by spiral scanning, an operator is required to set only one or two of three imaging conditions to be set, that is, a bed moving speed, a slice width of irradiation X-ray beams and an image reconstruction pitch. The CT apparatus according to the present invention determines in advance the relationship between these three imaging conditions so that when one or two of these imaging conditions are inputted, the remaining imaging condition or conditions are specified in the light of this relationship.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a device for reducing a matrix size of each of plural tomographic original images of one section of an object to be examined, the images being picked up with change of time, a device for performing a moving average process with respect to the data changed with time of each of the pixels of the obtained reduced image, the device for approximating the data changed with time of each pixel after the moving average process is done with a function, and a device for extracting a feature amount of the approximated function and creating a functional image on the feature amount.