Abstract: The quality control system includes a network, a plurality of medical diagnostic apparatuses which exist on the network and have respective histories of evaluation results on specific items regarding quality of individual medical diagnostic apparatuses and a control device which exists on the network, stores all of the histories of the evaluation results that individual medical diagnostic apparatuses hold and controls them centrally. By this unified quality control system, quality control of a plurality of medical diagnostic apparatuses connected to each other on the network can efficiently be performed.

Abstract: In a medical network system, the tone of an image displayed on a commonly-used image display apparatus becomes a desired tone corresponding to the type of an image outputting apparatus. Look-up tables correcting image information in accordance with each image outputting apparatus are pre-stored in tone correction look-up tables so that the tone of the displayed image based on the image information obtained by the image information outputting apparatus becomes desirable corresponding to each apparatus. Selection means reads the type of the image information outputting apparatus from information accompanying the image information and inputs the read information to the tone correction look-up table. The tone correction look-up table changes a signal level of the image information for each of the RGB signals by using an LUT selected by the selection means and inputs the image information after the change to image display means.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for detecting ultrasonic waves in a two-dimensional manner without necessity of electric-wiring works to a large number of very fine elements and without increasing of crosstalk and electric impedance. The ultrasonic probe is equipped with an ultrasonic transmitting function and can be provided in low cost. The ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic detecting element having a reception plane capable of receiving ultrasonic waves, for modulating light on the basis of ultrasonic waves applied to respective positions of the reception plane, and at least one ultrasonic transmitting element for transmitting ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: An ultrasonic receiving apparatus in which ultrasonic wave signals can be detected in a two-dimensional manner without necessities of electric-wiring works to a large number of very fine elements, and without increase of crosstalk and impedance. The ultrasonic receiving apparatus can be manufactured in low cost. This ultrasonic receiving apparatus includes an ultrasonic detecting element having a reception plane capable of receiving ultrasonic waves, for modulating light on the basis of ultrasonic waves applied to the respective positions of the reception plane; and a photodetector having a plurality of pixels, for detecting light output from corresponding positions of the ultrasonic detecting element.

Abstract: At least one kind of image input modality and at least one kind of image information output device are connected to an image processing system. At least one kind of image input modality, which is among connected image input modalities, includes a plurality of image information input apparatuses having different input device characteristics. The image processing system comprises a standardization device for carrying out transform processing on image information such that, in every case where the image information has been received from one image information input apparatus, which is among the plurality of the image information input apparatuses, the received image information may be transformed into standard image information, which does not depend upon the input device characteristics of the one image information input apparatus and depends upon standard device characteristics having been set previously for the image input modality including the one image information input apparatus.

Abstract: A method of generating three-dimensional image data by transmitting beams to an object from a transmitting part and detecting beams reflected from the object by using a two-dimensional sensor array having a plurality of sensors. The method includes the steps of: (a) storing detection signals obtained by the plurality of sensors during a predetermined period after transmission; (b) obtaining image data about at least one measured point included in the object on the basis of a detection signal output from at least one of the plurality of sensors at a time point obtained from relationship between a distance from the transmission part to at least one of the plurality of sensors through the at least one measured point and a transmission velocity of the beams passing through the object; and (c) obtaining image data by repeating step (b) while changing the time point.

Abstract: An ultrasonic receiving apparatus is equipped with such a condition capable of obtaining superior sensitivities. This ultrasonic receiving apparatus includes: an ultrasonic detecting element for modulating light on the basis of ultrasonic waves applied thereto, the ultrasonic detecting element including an ultrasonic sensible portion having a length not larger than ¾ of a wavelength of ultrasonic waves propagated therethrough; and a photodetector for detecting light output from the ultrasonic detecting element.

Abstract: At least one kind of image input modality and at least one kind of image information output device are connected to an image processing system. At least one kind of image input modality, which is among connected image input modalities, includes a plurality of image information input apparatuses having different input device characteristics. The image processing system comprises a standardization device for carrying out transform processing on image information such that, in every case where the image information has been received from one image information input apparatus, which is among the plurality of the image information input apparatuses, the received image information may be transformed into standard image information, which does not depend upon the input device characteristics of the one image information input apparatus and depends upon standard device characteristics having been set previously for the image input modality including the one image information input apparatus.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of quantitatively checking its performance. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic transmission unit; an ultrasonic reception unit; a signal processing unit for processing detection signals output from the ultrasonic reception unit to generate data; a first storage unit for storing data, which has been obtained by transmitting ultrasonic waves to a predetermined object and receiving ultrasonic echoes, as management data; a second storage unit for storing data, which has been obtained by transmitting ultrasonic waves to the predetermined object and receiving ultrasonic echoes when performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is checked, as check data; a comparison unit for generating comparison data on the basis of both the management data and the check data; and an image display unit for displaying an image on the basis of the comparison data.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus capable of obtaining ultrasonic images in high precision even in such a case where waveforms of ultrasonic waves are deformed in transmission and reception stages. The ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus includes: an ultrasonic wave transmitting unit; an ultrasonic wave receiving unit; a signal processing unit for processing the detection signals to thereby produce data; a first storage unit for storing data obtained by transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from a first object; a second storage unit for storing data obtained by transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from a second object; a correlative coefficient calculating unit for calculating a correlative coefficient between the data stored in the first storage unit and in the second storage unit; an image processing unit for producing an image signal based upon the correlative coefficient; and an image display unit for displaying an ultrasonic diagnostic image based upon the image signal.

Abstract: An image transfer system is provided with an image transfer controller which transfers image information input from image input systems to selected one of a plurality of image handling systems. Destination image handling systems for image information are entered in a memory in advance by the kinds of the image information. The kind of the image information is read out from information attached to the image information and input into the image transfer controller. When image information is input, the image transfer controller reads out destination image handling system corresponding to the kind of the image information from the memory and transfers the image information to the destination image handling system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the optimum transmission/reception conditions and image processing conditions can be easily set for each body part of an object to be inspected. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit; an image processing unit for executing image processing of image data by using image processing condition parameters; an information input unit to be employed for inputting information of object concerned with the object to be inspected, a parameter memory unit for storing the image processing condition parameters in correspondence with the information of object; a control unit for reading out the image processing condition parameters corresponding to the information of object input by employing the information input unit to supply the read-out parameters to the image processing unit; and a display unit for displaying an image.

Abstract: A radiation source and a radiation detector are located with an object intervening therebetween. A set of radiation blocking plates, each of which has at least one slit, are located between the radiation source and the radiation detector such that the object intervenes between the radiation blocking plates, and such that the slits of the radiation blocking plates are aligned in a straight line with the radiation source. The set of the radiation blocking plates are shifted stepwise in a direction along which radiation having been produced by the radiation source scans the object, such that the state in which the slits of the radiation blocking plates and the radiation source are aligned with one another in the straight line is kept. After each step of the shifting, the radiation source, the set of the radiation blocking plates, and the radiation detector are rotated around the object. Radiation image patterns of the object are recorded during the rotation.

Abstract: In a medical network system, the tone of an image displayed on a commonly-used image display apparatus becomes a desired tone corresponding to the type of an image outputting apparatus. Look-up tables correcting image information in accordance with each image outputting apparatus are pre-stored in tone correction look-up tables so that the tone of the displayed image based on the image information obtained by the image information outputting apparatus becomes desirable corresponding to each apparatus. Selection means reads the type of the image information outputting apparatus from information accompanying the image information and inputs the read information to the tone correction look-up table. The tone correction look-up table changes a signal level of the image information for each of the RGB signals by using an LUT selected by the selection means and inputs the image information after the change to image display means.

Abstract: A radiation image obtaining apparatus having an anti-scatter grid effectively eliminates an effect of scattered beams even in cases where the radiation image is taken using a radiation beam generated with a relatively high peak voltage. A source of the radiation beam generates the radiation beam with a peak voltage as high as 50-150 kvp, which generally induces the scattered beams of high intensities. The anti-scatter grid is an air-grid or a foamed material grid exhibiting direct beam transmittance of 70% or more for the generated radiation beam. An image signal representing a radiation image of a high S/N ratio containing only little noise due to the scattered beams can be obtained even with such a high peak voltage, as the transmittance of the radiation beam can be maintained at a high level while the effect of the scattered beam is eliminated.

Abstract: An image transfer system is provided with an image transfer controller which transfers image information input from image input systems to selected one of a plurality of image handling systems. Destination image handling systems for image information are entered in a memory in advance by the kinds of the image information. The kind of the image information is read out from information attached to the image information and input into the image transfer controller. When image information is input, the image transfer controller reads out destination image handling system corresponding to the kind of the image information from the memory and transfers the image information to the destination image handling system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe which does not require electric wiring to a large number of microcomponents and does not induce increase of crosstalk and electric impedance. This ultrasonic probe comprises an optical transmission path array incorporating a plurality of optical transmission paths on which light is incident at first ends thereof; and a plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements which are formed on these optical transmission at the second ends thereof and adapted to reflect the light incident through the respective fibers based on ultrasonic waves applied thereon.

Abstract: A method of generating three-dimensional image data by transmitting beams to an object from a transmitting part and detecting beams reflected from the object by using a two-dimensional sensor array having a plurality of sensors. The method includes the steps of: (a) storing detection signals obtained by the plurality of sensors during a predetermined period after transmission; (b) obtaining image data about at least one measured point included in the object on the basis of a detection signal output from at least one of the plurality of sensors at a time point obtained from relationship between a distance from the transmission part to at least one of the plurality of sensors through the at least one measured point and a transmission velocity of the beams passing through the object; and (c) obtaining image data by repeating step (b) while changing the time point.

Abstract: A two-dimensional ultrasonic probe has a transmitting function of an ultrasonic signal without electric interconnection of a numerous number of microcomponents and without increase in crosstalk and electric impedance. This probe includes an optical fiber array having a plurality of optical fibers to which light generated from a light source is made incident, a plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements, formed at one ends of the respective optical fibers, for modulating incident light via the optical fibers on the basis of the ultrasonic signal to be applied, and an ultrasonic transmitting element using a piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A hollow cam shaft is composed of a hollow shaft having an inner hollow portion and an end piece which is pressure-welded to at least one end of the hollow shaft. The end piece comprises an end member which is pressure-welded to the one end of the hollow shaft and an enclosure member extending from the end member in an axial direction thereof so as to be inserted into the inner hollow portion of the hollow shaft at a time of pressure welding to define an enclosure space in the inner hollow portion of the hollow shaft. The enclosure member comprises a sealing portion having an outer shape substantially the same as an inner shape of the hollow shaft and a connection portion connecting an end surface of the end member of the end piece and the sealing portion so as to define said enclosure space between the enclosure member and the hollow shaft into which a burr generated at the pressure welding time is enclosed.