Abstract: In a medical three-dimensional image display orientation modifying apparatus according to the present invention, landmarks (P1, P2) are respectively specified in right and left regions of a displayed medical three-dimensional image. The right and left landmarks thus specified are registered. The apparatus includes modifying means that modifies the inclinations of two (X- and Z-axes) of three axes (X-, Y- and Z-axes) of a three-dimensional coordinate system based on the registered landmarks with the other axis (Y-axis) kept unchanged. Therefore, the display orientation of the three-dimensional image can be more flexibly set for the morphological evaluation and analysis of the three-dimensional image, so that the clinical applicability of the information of the three-dimensional image is significantly improved.

Abstract: An inventive medical imaging marker includes a base (2) composed of a non-imageable material, three spherical members (10, 11, 12) provided in a predetermined positional relationship in the base (2) and each composed of an imageable material, and auxiliary marker members (20, 21, 22) provided in the base (2) and composed of the imageable material. The auxiliary marker members (20, 21, 22) respectively have linear portions (20L, 21L, 22L) which are disposed parallel to straight lines extending through center points of the three spherical members (10, 11, 12) and each have a predetermined length sufficient to serve as a mark. The center points of the three spherical members (10, 11, 12) can be correctly identified in a captured image with reference to the linear portions (20L, 21L, 22L) of the auxiliary marker members (20, 21, 22) of the inventive medical imaging marker. Thus, reference axes can be correctly defined in the image.

Abstract: An inventive implant handpiece (12) includes a head (14) having a round outer peripheral surface (20) which is concentric with a center axis of a drill bur (17) and has a predetermined length (H1 to H3) as measured axially of the drill bur (17). A surgical guide (11) has a guide hole (13) having a round inner peripheral surface to be opposed to the round peripheral surface (20) of the head (14). Since a drilling operation is performed with the head (14) fitted in the guide hole (13), the head (14) can be reliably uniquely guided to form an implant implantation hole as desired. Thus, the present invention provides an implant handpiece capable of accurately drilling a hole for formation of an implant implantation hole, and a surgical guide capable of guiding this handpiece.

Abstract: It has been desired to provide a method for accurately identifying a medical imaging marker mapped on a display image in correlation with an actual object. According to the present invention, one specific point (e.g., 1b) easy to identify on the display image is selected from a plurality of specific points specified by marker images (1b, 2b, 3b), and correlated with a corresponding marker pattern (1a) present on an actual marker plan diagram (4). Further, the marker images (2b, 3b) specifying the other specific points are successively caused to match in shape and position the corresponding marker patterns (1a, 2a, 3a) on the actual marker plan diagram (4) by translating an image sectional plane (5) perpendicularly to the plane or rotating the image sectional plane (5). Thus, a corrected image marker sectional plane (5?) is prepared. This makes it possible to accurately correlate the display image with the actual object.

Abstract: A highly precise implant implantation guide has been desired for safely and precisely performing a dental implant treatment. A method of producing an implant implantation guide according to the present invention includes the steps of: (1) preparing a guide block including an attachment portion and a processing portion; (2) acquiring CT image data of a patient with the guide block being worn by the patient; (3) determining an implant implantation position and an implant implantation direction through diagnosis based on the CT image data, and transforming information of the implantation position and the implantation direction thus determined into coordinate information based on a processing reference coordinate system; and (4) cutting the guide block through CAD/CAM so as to reflect the coordinate information obtained by the transformation.

Abstract: An inventive medical imaging marker includes two plate members (2a, 2b) of an imageable material, which respectively includes: two flat major surfaces (4a, 4b) located symmetrically about an intersection (7) of two orthogonal straight lines (5, 6); and two pairs of side surfaces (8a, 9a; 8b, 9b) disposed perpendicularly to the respective major surfaces (4a, 4b) with their boundary edges (5a, 6a; 5b, 6b) defined by at least parts of the straight lines (5, 6). With the use of the marker, an image can be easily and accurately correlated with an actual entity.

Abstract: A conventional medical image processing apparatus is capable of forming a section perpendicular to a reference plane, but has a drawback that a section intersecting the reference plane at a desired angle other than the right angle cannot be formed. A sectional line is defined in a three-dimensional image viewed perpendicularly to a reference plane. Then, the displayed image is switched to an image viewed along the sectional line, and a line indicative of the reference plane and a line indicative of a sectional plane based on the sectional line are displayed in the image. In turn, the line indicative of the displayed sectional plane is inclined with respect to the line indicative of the reference plane. Then, a sectional image taken along the sectional plane defined by the inclined line is displayed.

Abstract: The conventional display of a medical 3-dimensional image fails to display both the left and right sides of the patient simultaneously and symmetrically. The medical 3-dimensional image information cannot be therefore utilized efficiently for a comparative evaluation on the symmetrical left and right sides when making a diagnosis or a plan for surgery or treatment. According to a display control program, by displaying medical 3-dimensional images to be displayed on the display screen in a pair on the left and right sides, and by rotating a pair of the displays on the left and right sides in opposite directions with respect to the vertical axis (Z axis) to form and display an image on the opposite side corresponding to one viewpoint direction, both the left and right sides of the patent can be displayed simultaneously and symmetrically.

Abstract: A medical simulation apparatus is provided, which is capable of performing a simulation by correlating a three-dimensional image with an entity model. Coordinates of measurement marks MP1, MP2, MP3 on a surface of a lower dental arch model 62 in a coordinate system defined by three reference marks MK1, MK2, MK3 are acquired before and after displacement of the lower dental arch model 62. The coordinates thus acquired are converted into coordinates in a coordinate system defined by reference marks PK1, PK2, PK3 on the basis of a relationship between the reference marks MK1, MK2, MK3 and the reference marks PK1, PK2, PK3. Then, changes in the coordinates after displacement of the lower dental arch model 62 are determined, and a region preliminarily specified in a three-dimensional image displayed on a display 5 is displaced on the basis of the coordinate changes thus determined.

Abstract: Where an arbitrary point on an image is designated in the field of a medical image, it is generally designated on a sectional image, and an arbitrary point on a three-dimensional image cannot be designated. According to the invention the orientation of the three-dimensional image is controlled in a first direction corresponding to the operation of the user. When an arbitrary point of the three-dimensional image is designated by the user, a plane passing through that point and normal to a display screen is created and stored. Next, the three-dimensional image is oriented in a second direction, and an arbitrary point is designated in the second direction by the user. Then, there is created a straight line which passes through that point and which is normal to the display screen. Then, the coordinates of the intersection the stored screen and the straight line are determined, and the point having the coordinates of the intersection point is displayed on the three-dimensional image.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus that includes a connection part to which an external storage apparatus is connected, and a method for controlling the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus further includes a connection detector that detects whether the storage apparatus is connected to the connection part, and a controller that executes a first application program stored in the storage apparatus if the controller determines that the storage apparatus is connected with the connection part based on a detection result of the connection detector at a booting stage.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image displayed by a conventional medical computer system is not displayed on the basis of anatomic landmarks, so that a plurality of images cannot be compared with one another and examined on the basis of the same reference surfaces and references. In this invention, a three-dimensional image is constructed and displayed on the basis of multi-tomographing image data. Anatomic landmarks in the displayed three-dimensional image are specified, and reference planes are created on the basis of the landmarks. When the reference planes are created, the three-dimensional image is displayed upon correcting the position thereof such that it becomes an image based on the reference planes. As a result, an image displayed in three dimensions is an image based on anatomic reference planes, so that it can be anatomically directed in three-dimensions. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an image having good reproducibility.

Abstract: A conventional medical image processing apparatus is capable of forming a section perpendicular to a reference plane, but has a drawback that a section intersecting the reference plane at a desired angle other than the right angle cannot be formed. A sectional line is defined in a three-dimensional image viewed perpendicularly to a reference plane. Then, the displayed image is switched to an image viewed along the sectional line, and a line indicative of the reference plane and a line indicative of a sectional plane based on the sectional line are displayed in the image. In turn, the line indicative of the displayed sectional plane is inclined with respect to the line indicative of the reference plane. Then, a sectional image taken along the sectional plane defined by the inclined line is displayed.

Abstract: A medical simulation apparatus is provided, which is capable of performing a simulation by correlating a three-dimensional image with an entity model.

Abstract: Electro-anatomically navigated catheters (e.g., mapping catheters, tissue penetrating catheters, delivery catheters and/or sheaths) and associated methods whereby devices or substances may be delivered to specific locations within a patient's body and/or penetration tracts or passageways are formed at specific locations between anatomical structures. The catheters are equipped with sensors and a sensing field is created around the body of the patient. The sensor-equipped catheters are then inserted into the patient's body and the position of the catheter-mounted sensor(s) is/are observed on a display representing the sensing field. Apparatus may be included for propelling the catheter(s) to specific locations and/or specific rotation orientations, within the patient's body.

Abstract: Where an arbitrary point on an image is designated in the field of a medical image, it is generally designated on a sectional image, and an arbitrary point on a three-dimensional image cannot be designated. According to the invention the orientation of the three-dimensional image is controlled in a first direction corresponding to the operation of the user. When an arbitrary point of the three-dimensional image is designated by the user, a plane passing through that point and normal to a display screen is created and stored. Next, the three-dimensional image is oriented in a second direction, and an arbitrary point is designated in the second direction by the user. Then, there is created a straight line which passes through that point and which is normal to the display screen. Then, the coordinates of the intersection the stored screen and the straight line are determined, and the point having the coordinates of the intersection point is displayed on the three-dimensional image.

Abstract: A tongue cleaning device has not been available which ensures easy and satisfactory tongue cleaning for prevention of halitosis. To solve the problem, a tongue cleaning device is provided which is adapted to suck a tongue surface through a cylindrical member 11 by a suction system while scraping the tongue surface with spatulate members 14 and brushes 15. Papillae on the tongue surface are successively raised or laid down by scraping the tongue surface with the spatulate members 14 and brushes 15. Therefore, fossae of the tongue papillae and fissurae and sulci between the tongue papillae are spread so that bacterial plaque and bacteria can be sucked out of the sulci and the like by the suction system. Thus, the tongue can easily be cleaned.

Abstract: An occluded state and an opened state are reproduced on an occluding apparatus by a pair of upper and lower dentiform models using a bite at the time of occlusion and a bite at the time of opening which are extracted from a patient. For the reproduction, a D plate (Dual Mounting Plate) 9 is used. When the D plate 9 is used, it is possible to produce a C block which is integrated with an upper jaw teeth mode 4 by gypsum and an S1 block (or an S2 block) for a spacer which is mounted between the C block and an upper mounting plate 11 (12). The occluded state and the opened state can be reproduced using the dentiform models by replacing the S1 block and the S2 block with each other.