Abstract: An image matching device in which, in automatic positioning calculation using an ICP method, a solution is converged to an optimal solution while avoiding reaching a local solution, and a patient positioning device using this matching device. The device includes a CT image data reading unit reading first and second CT image data, a point group data generation unit generating first and second point group data in a three-dimensional space by binarization processing and edge-extraction processing on sliced images of the first and second CT image data, respectively, a point group data resolution conversion unit thinning-out point group data so as to extend a point-group-data array pitch, and an ICP calculation unit obtaining, using an ICP method, a conversion amount for the second point group data so that an error function of the first point group data and the second point group data outputted from the point group data resolution conversion unit is minimized.

Abstract: In order to obtain a particle beam irradiation apparatus that enlarges the dose distribution of beam spots while suppressing a decrease of the maximum available range of a charged particle beam, the particle beam irradiation apparatus includes a particle beam acceleration means; particle beam transport means; scanning apparatus that includes first scanning means and second scanning means, and two-dimensionally scans the beam; and irradiation control means that controls the scanning apparatus so as to irradiate the beam onto a target region including a plurality of small regions. The irradiation control means controls the first scanning means so as to scan the beam over a small region serving as an irradiation subject among the plurality of the small regions, and controls the second scanning means so as to change the small region serving as the irradiation subject to be a different small region among the plurality of the small regions.

Abstract: There is obtained a particle beam therapy system in which the beam size is reduced. There are provided an accelerator 14 that accelerates a charged particle beam; an irradiation apparatus that has a beam scanning apparatus 5a, 5b for performing scanning with the charged particle beam and irradiates the charged particle beam onto an irradiation subject; and a beam transport apparatus 15 that has a duct for ensuring a vacuum region or gas region that continues from the accelerator 14 to a beam outlet window 7 disposed at a more downstream position than the beam scanning apparatus 5a, 5b, and that transports the charged particle beam exiting from the accelerator 14 to the irradiation apparatus.

Abstract: An image matching device in which, in automatic positioning calculation using an ICP method, a solution is converged to an optimal solution while avoiding reaching a local solution, and a patient positioning device using this matching device. The device includes a CT image data reading unit reading first and second CT image data, a point group data generation unit generating first and second point group data in a three-dimensional space by binarization processing and edge-extraction processing on sliced images of the first and second CT image data, respectively, a point group data resolution conversion unit thinning-out point group data so as to extend a point-group-data array pitch, and an ICP calculation unit obtaining, using an ICP method, a conversion amount for the second point group data so that an error function of the first point group data and the second point group data outputted from the point group data resolution conversion unit is minimized.

Abstract: There is obtained a particle beam therapy system in which the beam size is reduced. There are provided an accelerator 14 that accelerates a charged particle beam; an irradiation apparatus that has a beam scanning apparatus 5a, 5b for performing scanning with the charged particle beam and irradiates the charged particle beam onto an irradiation subject ; and a beam transport apparatus 15 that has a duct for ensuring a vacuum region or gas region that continues from the accelerator 14 to a beam outlet window 7 disposed at a more downstream position than the beam scanning apparatus 5a, 5b, and that transports the charged particle beam exiting from the accelerator 14 to the irradiation apparatus.

Abstract: In order to obtain a particle beam irradiation apparatus that enlarges the dose distribution of beam spots while suppressing a decrease of the maximum available range of a charged particle beam, the particle beam irradiation apparatus includes a particle beam acceleration means; particle beam transport means; scanning apparatus that includes first scanning means and second scanning means, and two-dimensionally scans the beam; and irradiation control means that controls the scanning apparatus so as to irradiate the beam onto a target region including a plurality of small regions. The irradiation control means controls the first scanning means so as to scan the beam over a small region serving as an irradiation subject among the plurality of the small regions, and controls the second scanning means so as to change the small region serving as the irradiation subject to be a different small region among the plurality of the small regions.

Abstract: There is provided a patient registration system according to the present invention, including: a CT data capturing device; an X-ray television imaging device; and an image processing device for generating a two-dimensional DRR image based on the captured CT data, and then calculating an amount of displacement between a first diseased site position when the CT data is captured and a second diseased site position when the X-ray television image is captured.

Abstract: A radiation exposure region to be irradiated with particle beams and a peripheral region thereof are respectively divided into pluralities of exposure regions, radiation treatment simulation for applying particle beams according to the shape of each divided exposure region is performed, and a radiation treatment condition is obtained for causing the flatness of the radiation exposure region to be in a desired range, and a dose of particle beams applied to the unit exposure region of the peripheral region to be minimum. Thus, the problem of low efficiency of radiation is solved.

Abstract: A radiation exposure region to be irradiated with particle beams and a peripheral region thereof are respectively divided into pluralities of exposure regions, radiation treatment simulation for applying particle beams according to the shape of each divided exposure region is performed, and a radiation treatment condition is obtained for causing the flatness of the radiation exposure region to be in a desired range, and a dose of particle beams applied to the unit exposure region of the peripheral region to be minimum. Thus, the problem of low efficiency of radiation is solved.

Abstract: The ratio a between an energy distribution vector UP is calculated by using a density distribution P, and a desired energy distribution vector V to obtain an energy source density distribution P/a. Thus, the intensity of an energy distribution can be varied, and the irradiation of unnecessary portions of the human body can be avoided when an tumor in the human body is irradiated with an energy distribution.

Abstract: In accordance with the distortion correction method for an X-ray radiograph diagnosis device, the distortion center of the X-ray image is determined by use of a plate-shaped object having a circular marker M and a marker center M.sub.0. On the basis of the positions of the sample points M.sub.1 through M.sub.4 upon the circular marker M, the distortion center is inferred. Further, a grid marker pattern is used to determine the magnitudes of pincushion distortion at respective distances from the distortion center. The correction coefficients for correcting the spool distortion at respective distances from the distortion center are determined on the basis of the relationship between the physical and displayed distances from the marker center M.sub.0 to the sample points.

Abstract: An artifact suppression system for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising static field application means for applying a static field to a subject, RF pulse application means for applying RF pulses, gradient field application means for applying gradient fields which consist of a slice field for designating a tomographic slice, a phase encode field for affording a phase encode magnitude, and a signal read field for encoding a frequency, and sequence control means for controlling a signal acquistion sequence which acquires a magnetic resonance signal from the designated tomographic slice of the subject, and a saturation sequence which saturates spins of movable objects to traverse the designated tomographic slice of the subject for the signal acquisition, before execution of the signal acquisition sequence.

Abstract: In a method of magnetic resonance imaging in which an RF magnetic field pulse, a slice magnetic field, a phase encoding magnetic field and a signal reading magnetic field are applied to a sample in a predetermined sequence for the construction of desired slice image on the basis of a magnetic resonance signal from the sample, artifacts due to moving parts of the sample under examination are removed by specific combinations of the magnetic fields.

Abstract: In an NMR imaging method, the phase encode amount applied to the respective echo signals in the same sequence of operation are made to have different values and the phase encoding magnetic fields Gen are made to disorder the phases of the NMR signals so as not to generate stimulated echo signals. In another aspect, the time periods of application of the signal reading magnetic field Gp applied between the 90.degree. RF pulse and the 180.degree. RF pulse are made to have different values equal in number to the chemical shifts. By varying the time period of application of the signal reading magnetic field, spin echo signals having different phase variance amounts due to the different chemical shifts are generated before or after the time point at which the spin echo due to the RF pulse is expected to occur. Accordingly, control difficulties for synchronizing the RF pulse and the slicing magnetic field and shifting them by the same time length is avoided wherein two chemical shifts can be separated.

Abstract: The high frequency magnetic field generating portions are arranged at spatially different positions, respectively, and high frequency currents having phase difference corresponding to a spatial deviation between the high frequency magnetic field generating portions are supplied to the high frequency magnetic field generating portions, resultant high frequency magnetic fields being combined to produce a single rotating magnetic field.

Abstract: A signal processing unit which employs a constant, continuous and automatic error correction. The prior manual calibration to eliminate errors is eliminated. An echo signal is employed for ease of design.