Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to iteratively reconstruct a PET image for emission data using separable quadratic surrogates (SQS). The quadratic surrogates include a Poisson likelihood surrogate that has a curvature that depends on a back-projection of an inverse of mean-background signal. The method can be used with Nesterov acceleration and ordered subsets to achieve quadratic convergence to an image minimizing a Poisson Likelihood objective function that includes a regularizer that penalizes roughness in the reconstructed image.

Abstract: A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry extracts a reference line of a region of interest included in a medical image collected from a subject. The processing circuitry sets feature points in the region of interest based on the reference line and a contour of the region of interest. The processing circuitry presents pieces of identification information for identifying the positions of the set feature points. The processing circuitry receives a contactless input for selecting a specific piece of identification information from the pieces of identification information presented in the medical image. Based on the specific piece of identification information for which the contactless input is received, the processing circuitry acquires the position of the feature point having the corresponding piece of identification information in the medical image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, An X-ray CT apparatus includes: a rotating body and processing circuitry configured to extract an anatomical landmark from a medical image of an object acquired by a first scan, identify a shape of an anatomical site of the object based on the anatomical landmark, and set scanning conditions of a second scan based on the shape of the anatomical site, the second scan including a tilt scan in which a scan is performed under a condition where the rotating body is tilted, the scanning conditions including at least a tilt angle of the tilt scan.

Abstract: A medical information processing system includes setting circuitry, generating circuitry and output control circuitry. The setting circuitry is configured to set a region of interest in a three-dimensional image that is generated by emitting X-rays to a breast of a subject and imaging the breast from different directions. The generating circuitry is configured to generate reference information in which positional information about the region of interest is associated with a schematic diagram of the breast. The output control circuitry is configured to cause output circuitry to output the reference information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to iteratively reconstruct a PET image for emission data using separable quadratic surrogates (SQS). The quadratic surrogates include a Poisson likelihood surrogate that has a curvature that depends on a back-projection of an inverse of mean-background signal. The method can be used with Nesterov acceleration and ordered subsets to achieve quadratic convergence to an image minimizing a Poisson Likelihood objective function that includes a regularizer that penalizes roughness in the reconstructed image.

Abstract: An exposure dose management system according to an embodiment includes an image storage device, a first recording device, a misalignment correction device, and a second recording device. The image storage device stores a human body three-dimensional image. The first recording device records an exposure dose and an exposure area of a subject in a first irradiation step on the human body three-dimensional image. The misalignment correction device corrects misalignment between a position of the subject in a second irradiation step, which follows the first irradiation step, and a position of the human body three-dimensional image. The second recording device further records an exposure dose and an exposure area in the second irradiation step on the human body three-dimensional image in which the misalignment was corrected.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an X-ray computed tomography (CT) apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire projection data that is based on a spectrum representing an amount of X-rays with respect to energy of a radiation having passed through a subject; select a plurality of materials; generate, from the projection data, first density images for each of the selected materials; generate a monochromatic image of specific energy from the first density images; reconstruct the projection data corresponding to the specific energy to generate a reconstructed image; compare the monochromatic image and the reconstructed image; and provide a notification indicating a result of the comparison.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry selects from a plurality of diffusion-weighted images with different applied directions of a motion probing gradient magnetic field pulse or different diffusion sensitive coefficients, a diffusion-weighted image that conforms to a predetermined condition. The processing circuitry configured to register the selected diffusion-weighted image with a reference image for which the diffusion sensitive coefficient being set to a reference value to correct the selected diffusion-weighted image. The processing circuitry configured to register the corrected diffusion-weighted image with each of the other diffusion-weighted images of the plurality of diffusion-weighted images to correct each of the other diffusion-weighted images.

Abstract: A magnetic field adjusting method according to an embodiment includes: acquiring, by using a measuring device, first data related to a static magnetic field while a static magnetic field magnet is generating the static magnetic field having magnetic field intensity lower than rated magnetic field intensity required by an imaging process performed by a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus; and calculating, by using processing circuitry, a positional arrangement of a shim member used for correcting uniformity of the static magnetic field on the basis of the first data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a medical image diagnostic apparatus includes a display and processing circuitry. The display displays a relationship diagram indicating a relationship between values which are respectively set for imaging parameters relating to an imaging condition of medical imaging. The processing circuitry updates the relationship diagram in accordance with a moving operation of a point corresponding to each of the values on the relationship diagram, or a change operation of the imaging condition. The processing circuitry changes the imaging condition before the moving operation or the change operation to an imaging condition which reflects the moving operation or the change operation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to generate a first calculated image and a second calculated image through calculation using data obtained through an imaging in which magnetic resonance signals used for deriving a tissue quantitative value are acquired, wherein a signal value of a tissue other than a suppression-target tissue which is a target to be suppressed is low on the second calculated image as compared to the first calculated image. The processing circuitry is configured to generate a difference image between the first calculated image and second calculated image so as to generate an image on which a signal value of a tissue with a long relaxation time is suppressed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a specimen measurement apparatus includes a detector, a reaction promoter and processing circuitry. The detector generates an electrical signal based on a reactive state in a reaction chamber in which a mixture of a test substance and a reagent is contained. The reaction promoter supplies to the reaction chamber energy to promote reaction in the reaction chamber. The processing circuitry switches an energy supply state in accordance with a predetermined time schedule, determines a stationary state of the test substance based on an electrical signal generated after the energy supply state is switched, and outputs the stationary state obtained by the determination.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a biological tissue grinding container includes a container portion and a vibrated portion, and vibration is transmitted to biological tissue from the vibration portion to grind the biological tissue. The vibrated portion includes a contact portion to be brought into direct contact with the biological tissue and defines a chamber which stores the biological tissue to be ground, together with the container portion. The vibrated portion is fixedly supported to be vibratable to the container portion directly or via a support portion provided between the container portion and itself, and has solidity higher than that of the container portion or support portion.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and methods to effect improved and more efficient determination of the specific absorption rate (SAR) are described. The SAR is calculated based upon a derived relationship between a body surface area (BSA) and a portion of the total radio frequency (RF) energy delivered to RF transmit coil that is deposited in the imaging subject, and the scanning is controlled in accordance with the calculated SAR.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to predict a regularization parameter for regularized iterative reconstruction of radiation detection data (e.g., computed tomography (CT) data or positron-emission tomography (PET) data) to generate a reconstructed image having specified statistical properties. The predicted regularization parameter is determined using a root-finding method performed on a transcendental objective function. The objective function is calculated using a three-dimensional Fourier transforms of an approximation to a shift invariant Hessian matrix and of matrix products between the forward-projection and back projection matrices of the system model and various (statistical) weight matrices. The specified statistical properties can include the standard deviation within a region of interest, a local spatial resolution, a low-contrast-detectability metric, etc.

Abstract: According to on embodiment, a power supply circuit is provided in a main body and generates operating voltages for various electric circuits in the ultrasonic probe. Signal lines SL1 connects the power supply circuit to the electric circuits by way of the probe connector, to supply operating voltages from the power supply circuit to the electric circuits. A voltage monitoring circuit is provided in the main body and monitors voltages supplied to the electric circuits, utilizing the input voltage from the ultrasonic probe. To supply input voltages to the voltage monitoring circuit, signal line SL2 branches from signal lines SL1 in the ultrasonic probe and connects the electric circuits and the voltage monitoring circuit to each other by way of the probe connector.

Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an obtaining unit and a calculating unit. The obtaining unit is configured to, with regard to a plurality of X-ray images that are acquired with time by using a contrast media, obtains first transition information that indicates a time-course transition of a signal intensity of the contrast media in a region of interest that corresponds to a blood vessel and obtains second transition information that indicates a time-course transition of the signal intensity of the contrast media in a region to which the contrast media flows earlier than the region of interest. The calculating unit is configured to analyze the first transition information by using the second transition information to calculate blood flow information on each blood flow in the region of interest.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes a display unit to display an ultrasonic image, a comparison unit to compare the signal/echo intensity of a cardiac chamber portion of an ultrasonic image with the signal/echo intensity of a myocardial portion of the image, and an indication generating unit to generate a specific indication at a time point when the signal/echo intensity of the cardiac chamber portion changes from a higher value to a lower value than the signal/echo intensity of the myocardial portion or at another time point with reference to the time point.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, detector cells are provided on a substrate, divided into groups, and detect an X-rays. Switches respectively connected to the detector cells. The data acquisition elements are respectively connected to the groups and configured to integrate electrical signals from a detector cells belonging to each of the groups. The control circuitry are configured to control the switches for each of the groups so as to switch between first connection for substantially simultaneously reading out electrical signals from a detector cells belonging to each of the groups and second connection for reading out electrical signals from a detector cells belonging to each of the groups at different timings.

Abstract: A medical image diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes a controller. The controller generates a plurality of candidates for a first cross-sectional image from three-dimensional image data obtained by taking images of a heart. The controller generates, from the three-dimensional image data, one or more second cross-sectional images each of which intersects the candidates for the first cross-sectional image. The controller displays in parallel on a display, the candidates for the first cross-sectional image, as well as the second cross-sectional images on each of which information is superimposed. The information indicates positional relationships between the candidates for the first cross-sectional image and the second cross-sectional image.