Patents by Inventor Akira HORIBA

Akira HORIBA 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).

  • Publication number: 20180306735
    Abstract: The X-ray phase imaging apparatus includes a position switching mechanism for switching a relative position of one or more gratings between a retreated position which is an outside of a detection range on a detection surface of an image signal detector and a detection positon which is an inside of the detection range on the detection surface of the image signal detector and a focal diameter changing unit configured to change a focal diameter of the X-ray source in conjunction with switching of the relative position of the one or more gratings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Koichi TANABE, Kenji KIMURA, Toshinori YOSHIMUTA, Taro SHIRAI, Takahiro DOKI, Satoshi SANO, Akira HORIBA, Naoki MORIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180279972
    Abstract: In an X-ray imaging device according to a first embodiment, an X-ray detector has a configuration in which scintillator elements are defined by light-shielding walls in a lattice shape. Among X-rays incident on the X-ray detector, X-rays incident on the light-shielding walls are not converted into scintillator light and are transmitted by the X-ray detector. Accordingly, by causing X-rays to be incident on the X-ray detector in which the scintillator elements are defined by the light-shielding walls in a lattice shape, an area in which X-rays 3a transmitted by a subject M are incident on the X-ray detector can be limited to an arbitrary range. Accordingly, since a detection mask can be omitted in the X-ray imaging device which is used for EI-XPCi, it is possible to reduce a manufacturing cost of the X-ray imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi TANABE, Shingo FURUI, Toshinori YOSHIMUTA, Kenji KIMURA, Akihiro NISHIMURA, Taro SHIRAI, Takahiro DOKI, Satoshi SANO, Akira HORIBA, Toshiyuki SATO
  • Publication number: 20180180558
    Abstract: This X-ray phase imaging apparatus includes an X-ray source, a detector, a plurality of gratings including a phase grating and an absorption grating, and an image processing unit for generating an image including a dark field image. The image processing unit generates an image including a dark field image from an image captured by placing the plurality of gratings at one or two predetermined positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Satoshi SANO, Taro SHIRAI, Takahiro DOKI, Akira HORIBA
  • Publication number: 20180172607
    Abstract: The X-ray phase imaging apparatus is configured to include an image generation unit that generates an X-ray phase-contrast image based on a phase-contrast between a step curve representing an intensity change of an X-ray when an object is placed between an X-ray source and a phase grating or between a phase grating and an absorption grating and a step curve when no object is placed therebetween, and is configured to obtain a displacement amount of relative positions of a plurality of gratings based on a plurality of step curves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Satoshi SANO, Taro SHIRAI, Takahiro DOKI, Akira HORIBA
  • Publication number: 20180052240
    Abstract: A X-ray detector having enhanced X-ray sensitivity, which enables dual energy imaging having high diagnostic performance. This X-ray detector includes: scintillator elements which are partitioned by light blocking walls and which convert low-energy X-rays to light; and scintillator elements which are partitioned by light blocking walls and which convert high-energy X-rays to light. When seen from the direction of incidence of the X-rays, the positional pattern of the light blocking walls and that of the light blocking walls are configured so as not to be in alignment with each other. Accordingly, the X-rays incident on the X-ray detector are converted to light by at least either one of the scintillator elements and are finally outputted as X-ray detection signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Tanabe, Shingo Furui, Toshinori Yoshimuta, Kenji Kimura, Akihiro Nishimura, Taro Shirai, Takahiro Doki, Satoshi Sano, Akira Horiba, Toshiyuki Sato
  • Publication number: 20180042571
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation phase difference imaging apparatus in which a separation distance between a phase grating and a radiation detector is optimized. The separation distance between the phase grating and a detection surface of an FPD is determined based on the magnitude of noise corruption in a self-image projected onto the detection surface. The magnitude of the effect of the noise is used as a basis for assessing the separation distance. It is determined whether a distance Zd is appropriate for imaging, based on the magnitude of noise corruption in the self-image in a self-image picture which is obtained when the distance Zd is the distance between the phase grating and the detection surface of the FPD. The separation distance can thus be optimized based on actual conditions of an actual X-ray source that emits a plurality of types of X-rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi SANO, Toshiyuki SATO, Koichi TANABE, Shingo FURUI, Toshinori YOSHIMUTA, Hiroyuki KISHIHARA, Takahiro DOKI, Akira HORIBA
  • Publication number: 20170343486
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation phase-contrast imaging device capable of assuredly detecting a self-image and precisely imaging the internal structure of an object. According to the configuration of the present invention, the longitudinal direction of a detection surface of a flat panel detector is inclined with respect to the extending direction of an absorber in a phase grating. This causes variations in the position (phase) of a projected stripe pattern of a self-image at different positions on the detection surface. This is therefore expected to produce the same effects as those obtainable when a plurality of self-images are obtained by performing imaging a plurality of times in such a manner that the position of the projected self-images on the detection surface varies. This alone, however, results in a single self-image phase for a specific region of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Koichi TANABE, Shingo FURUI, Hiroyuki KISHIHARA, Kenji KIMURA, Taro SHIRAI, Takahiro DOKI, Satoshi SANO, Akira HORIBA