Patents Assigned to National Institute of Radiological Sciences
  • Publication number: 20140166890
    Abstract: A resin for scintillators having high radiation sensitivity, which is obtained without using a wavelength conversion agent. The resin for the scintillator of a radiation detector contains a polyester having a unit represented by the following formula (1). (In the above formula (1), Ar is a naphthalenediyl group or an anthracenediyl group all of which may be substituted by an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a halogen atom. X is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms or an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 20 carbon atoms all of which may be substituted by an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a halogen atom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicants: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, TEIJIN LIMITED
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Shimizu, Fumio Murakawa, Zenichiro Shidara, Hidehito Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Shirakawa
  • Publication number: 20140135613
    Abstract: A PET/MRI device includes an MRI device that has a measurement port, a PET detector that can be inserted into the measurement port, and a mechanism that can slide the PET detector into and out of the MRI measurement port. Thereby, the PET/MRI device allows MRI measurement during PET measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Taiga YAMAYA, Takayuki OBATA
  • Publication number: 20140061483
    Abstract: In a coincidence determination of a PET device, the PET device uses a scintillator of radioactive isotope containing background noise due to intrinsic radioactivity as a radiation detector. The PET device counts a pair of annihilation radiations that is assumed to occur from a same nuclide. The annihilation radiations are detected within a predetermined coincidence time window by a plurality of radiation detectors. The method includes determining a coincidence with a wide energy window that allows detecting the background noise due to intrinsic radioactivity as multiple coincidences; removing the multiple coincidences; and using an energy window narrower than the wide energy window to limit a coincidence event to a coincidence event in a photopeak from a positron nuclide only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Eiji YOSHIDA, Taiga YAMAYA
  • Publication number: 20140046180
    Abstract: An inclined PET device is provided in which the cut plane of a detector ring upon which a plurality of PET detectors are disposed is inclined so that it does not intersect perpendicularly with the long axis of a bed that carries a subject to be examined and in which an open space that passes through the bed in a direction perpendicular to the long axis thereof is formed, in order to enable access to the subject to be examined. The PET detectors are disposed and stacked in a direction parallel to the long axis of the bed. Thereby, the number of PET detectors is reduced and device cost is reduced, while the detector ring as well as the device can be miniaturized. At the same time, the open space that passes through the bed in a direction perpendicular to the long axis can be preserved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicants: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Taiga Yamaya, Hideaki Tashima, Mitsuo Watanabe, Eiichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8594404
    Abstract: A plurality of detector rings in which detectors arranged densely or spatially in a ring shape or in a polygonal shape are arranged, with an open space kept in the body axis direction, coincidences are measured for some of or all of detector pairs connecting the detector rings apart from the open space to perform three-dimensional image reconstruction, thereby imaging the open space between the detector rings as a tomographic image. Therefore, the open space is secured, with the deteriorated quality of an image suppressed, thus making it possible to easily gain access to a patient under PET scanning from outside a gantry and also provide irradiation of particle beams for cancer treatment as well as X-ray CT scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventors: Taiga Yamaya, Hideo Murayama, Shinichi Minohara
  • Patent number: 8581196
    Abstract: In beam monitoring for detecting annihilation radiations produced by radiation irradiation in radiation therapy for cancer which is performed by irradiating the affected area by X-rays, gamma rays, or particle beams, a detector-shift type combined radiation therapy/PET apparatus is provided with an open PET device that includes a plurality of shiftable multi-ring detector rings; and a radiation irradiation device that is capable of irradiation with a radiation beam through between the detector rings. The apparatus changes the positions of the detector rings, performs irradiation with the radiation beam through between the detector rings, and then performs radiation measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventors: Taiga Yamaya, Hideo Murayama, Shinichi Minohara, Taku Inaniwa, Takuji Furukawa, Shinichirou Mori
  • Patent number: 8552408
    Abstract: Provided is a particle beam irradiation apparatus capable of highly reliable measurement of a dose of each beam and capable of highly sensitive measurement of a leakage dose caused by momentary beam emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventors: Katsushi Hanawa, Yasushi Iseki, Nobukazu Kakutani, Takuji Furukawa, Taku Inaniwa, Shinji Sato, Kouji Noda
  • Publication number: 20130241555
    Abstract: In a PET (Positron Emission Tomography)-MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus of an embodiment, a magnet that is a seamless structure generates a static magnetic field in a bore having a cylindrical shape. First detectors and second detectors are each formed in a ring shape and detect gamma rays emitted from positron emitting radionuclides injected into a subject. The first detectors and the second detectors are disposed with a space therebetween in an axial direction of the bore so as to interpose the magnetic field center of the static magnetic field therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicants: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventors: Takayuki OBATA, Taiga YAMAYA, Iwao KANNO, Hitoshi YAMAGATA, Takuzo TAKAYAMA, Kazuya OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20130234710
    Abstract: In a PET (Positron Emission Tomography)-MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus of an embodiment, a transmitting radio frequency coil applies a radio frequency magnetic field on a subject placed in a static magnetic field. A detector is formed in a ring shape, disposed on a side adjacent to an outer circumference of the transmitting radio frequency coil, includes at least two PET detectors disposed with a space therebetween in an axial direction of a bore so as to interpose the magnetic field center of the static magnetic field therebetween, and detects gamma rays emitted from positron emitting radionuclides injected into the subject. Radio frequency shields are each formed in an approximately cylindrical shape, disposed between the transmitting radio frequency coil and the detector, and shield the radio frequency magnetic field generated by the transmitting radio frequency coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicants: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Iwao KANNO, Takayuki OBATA, Taiga YAMAYA, Kazuya OKAMOTO, Takuzo TAKAYAMA, Hitoshi YAMAGATA
  • Publication number: 20130211233
    Abstract: In the integrated PET/MRI scanner provided with an RF coil for MRI and a plurality of PET detectors in the measuring port of the MRI scanner, the PET detectors are disposed with spaces therebetween and at least the transmitting coil elements of the RF coil for MRI are disposed between adjacent PET detectors. Here, the PET detectors are disposed in the circumferential direction of the measuring port with spaces therebetween and the transmitting coil elements are disposed in the axial direction of the measuring port. Alternatively, at least some of the PET detectors are disposed in the axial direction of the measuring port with spaces therebetween and the transmitting coil elements are disposed between adjacent PET detectors. The PET detectors can be DOI-type detectors capable of detecting position in the depth direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicants: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Taiga Yamaya, Fumihiko Nishikido, Takayuki Obata, Mikio Suga, Kazuyuki Saito, Mitsuo Watanabe, Eiichi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130189289
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vaccine for preventing or treating tautopathy, comprising a vector, as an active ingredient, comprising a nucleic acid encoding a mutant tau protein linked to a secretion signal sequence, wherein the vaccine is capable of inducing an antibody against an (optionally phosphorylated) tau protein in a subject in a more sustained manner compared with a case where the mutant tau protein is administered directly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicants: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, KYOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haruhisa Inoue, Hiroki Takeuchi, Ryosuke Takahashi, Makoto Higuchi, Bin Ji, Tetsuya Suhara
  • Patent number: 8487282
    Abstract: A particle beam irradiation apparatus that can measure and display a dose two-dimensional distribution during scan while reducing degradation of a particle beam shape, including a particle beam generation portion; a particle beam emission control portion; a two-dimensional beam scanning portion; a sensor portion including first linear electrodes arranged in parallel in a first direction and second linear electrodes arranged in parallel in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a beam shape calculation portion that calculates a center of gravity of the particle beam from outputs of each the first linear and second linear electrodes and that obtains a two-dimensional beam shape of the particle beam around the center of gravity; a storage portion that accumulates and stores the two-dimensional beam shapes; and a display portion that displays the two-dimensional beam shapes as a two-dimensional distribution of a dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventors: Yasushi Iseki, Katsushi Hanawa, Kazunao Maeda, Nobukazu Kakutani, Takuji Furukawa, Taku Inaniwa, Shinji Sato, Kouji Noda
  • Patent number: 8466418
    Abstract: A gamma ray detector for detecting a gamma ray emitted from a target of measurement includes: an organic scintillator for detecting Compton electrons resulting from a gamma ray emitted from the target of measurement; an inorganic scintillator for detecting a Compton gamma ray; and photodetector modules for detecting light generation in the corresponding scintillators. Light generation signals from the organic and inorganic scintillators are synchronously measured, and a detection window of a gamma ray is generated. Thus, an inexpensive radiation diagnostic device of an ultra-high S/N ratio and low cost is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventor: Hidehito Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8461539
    Abstract: A combined radiation therapy/PET apparatus includes: an open PET device having multi-ring detector rings that are opposed to each other in the direction of the body axis so as to leave a gap therebetween; and a radiation therapy apparatus for performing radiation therapy through the gap. When imaging the condition of an affected area and a treatment beam for monitoring in radiation therapy of irradiating the affected area with X-rays, gamma rays, or particle beams, the apparatus covers a region of interest in the irradiation field of the radiation therapy with the field-of-view of the open PET device, thereby making possible the positioning of the irradiation field and treatment monitoring using PET images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventors: Taiga Yamaya, Hideo Murayama, Taku Inaniwa
  • Patent number: 8457379
    Abstract: A plurality of CT images of an organ (10) which has undergone a subtle variation or deformation are used as input data, blood vessels and trachea 12 distributed inside the organ are extracted and subjected to thinning, the thus thinned images 14 are used to extract the coordinates of bifurcations 16 and connections, the thus extracted coordinates are used as feature points to track the motion of individual points between a plurality of CT images in a three dimensional space, thereby measuring the movement of the organ (10). Thus, it is possible to realize a local motion tracking at an arbitrary point over an entire region inside an organ, which would be impossible by using a metal marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National University Corporation Gunma University
    Inventors: Mutsumi Tashiro, Shinichi Minohara
  • Patent number: 8436312
    Abstract: This aims to provide a DOI type radiation detector in which scintillation crystals arranged two-dimensionally on a light receiving surface to form rectangular section groups in extending directions of the light receiving surface of a light receiving element are stacked up to make a three-dimensional arrangement and responses of the crystals that have detected radiation are made possible to identify at response positions on the light receiving surface, so that a three-dimensional radiation detection position can be obtained. In the DOI type radiation detector, scintillation crystals are right triangle poles extending upwards from the light receiving surface and the response positions on the light receiving surface are characterized. With this structure, DOI identification of a plurality of layers can be carried out by simply performing an Anger calculation of a light receiving element signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventors: Naoko Inadama, Hideo Murayama, Kengo Shibuya, Fumihiko Nishikido, Taiga Yamaya, Eiji Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20130056638
    Abstract: A three-dimensional position-sensitive radiation detector is provided which has a three-dimensional array of photodetectors disposed on the surface of a scintillator block and which is capable of three-dimensionally identifying the position of light emission at which radiation has been detected within the detector. The three-dimensional position-sensitive radiation detector includes: a scintillator block including a central portion which restricts the direction of diffusion of light so as to direct the light in three axial directions and which has an optically discontinuous region, and an outer portion which is disposed on the outside of the central portion and which does not restrict the direction of diffusion of light; and photodetectors disposed on at least two outer circumferential surfaces of the scintillator block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicants: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Naoko Inadama, Hideo Murayama, Taiga Yamaya, Mitsuo Watanabe, Takahiro Moriya, Kenshi Fukumitsu, Tomohide Omura
  • Patent number: 8384034
    Abstract: A beta ray detector and a beta ray reconstruction method are capable of achieving consistently high detection efficiency of beta rays in a wider energy region compared to that of a conventional beta ray detector while enhancing energy resolution. The beta ray detector comprises an absorber scintillator disposed to face a subject emitting beta rays and that is made from an absorptive substance exhibiting a high permeability and a high rate of absorption with respect to beta rays, a backscattering scintillator disposed on the backside of the absorber scintillator and that is made from a backscattering substance exhibiting a low permeability and a high rate of backscattering with respect to beta rays, and an energy detector that combines the amounts of beta ray energy absorption simultaneously measured by the two types of scintillators to reconstruct the energy and detection position of the beta rays emitted from the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventor: Hidehito Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130037722
    Abstract: In imaging on the basis of list mode data of a list of radioactive count data detected by a nuclear medicine imaging apparatus for measuring radiation in a pulse mode, the processing from the measurement to imaging of radiation is accelerated substantially to the real time level by selecting the number of count data to be used for online imaging computations on the basis of the counting rate of radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Taiga Yamaya, Eiji Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20130030287
    Abstract: Provided are a proximity imaging type PET apparatus and a system which include a part-specific PET scanner disposed in proximity to a specific part of a measurement target and a whole-body PET scanner which is capable of radiographing the whole body of the measurement target, the PET apparatus and system being capable of bringing PET detectors into close proximity to the specific part of the measurement target so as to ensure higher sensitivity and imaging a wide field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
    Inventor: Taiga Yamaya