Patents by Inventor Hiroki Taguchi

Hiroki Taguchi 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).

  • Patent number: 9949711
    Abstract: An X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to the present embodiment comprises a gantry and a tube current setting circuitry. The tube current setting circuitry set tube currents for the respective imaging regions. To be specific, the tube current setting circuitry calculate X-ray absorption index values in the respective imaging regions, based on scanogram image data, determine tube current values corresponding to the X-ray absorption index values for the respective imaging regions, and correct the tube current values of the respective imaging regions except for a reference region based on a relative relationship between an X-ray absorption index value of the reference imaging region and tube current values of the other imaging regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Goto, Naruomi Akino, Yoshinori Uebayashi, Hiroki Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20170273654
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to detect X-rays that have passed through a subject by using a detector and to acquire projection data on a basis of a detection result. The processing circuitry is configured to obtain position information of a highly X-ray absorbent member in the body of the subject. The processing circuitry is configured to derive information about transmission paths of the X-rays in accordance with a processing effect of an artifact reducing process performed on the highly X-ray absorbent member, on the basis of the position information of the highly X-ray absorbent member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicants: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, National Cancer Center
    Inventors: Hiroki TAGUCHI, Shinsuke Tsukagoshi, Kotaro Sekiya, Hirofumi Kuno, Keiichi Nomura
  • Patent number: 9747704
    Abstract: An X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to embodiments includes image processing circuitry and decomposition circuitry. The image processing circuitry is configured to perform an image processing on each of a plurality of pieces of monochromatic X-ray image data of different energies, the plurality of pieces of monochromatic X-ray image data being generated from projection data. The decomposition circuitry is configured to decompose, for each of a plurality of basis materials specified in advance, the plurality of pieces of monochromatic X-ray image data after the image processing, to generate basis material image data of each of the plurality of basis materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Taguchi, Satoru Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9706973
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a separating unit, a reconstructing unit, and an extracting unit. The separating unit separates projection data into pieces of line-integrated data each of which corresponds to a different one of basis materials set in advance. The reconstructing unit reconstructs pieces of basis material image data from the pieces of line-integrated data each of which corresponds to a different one of the basis materials, the pieces of basis material image data being configured so that each pixel value of each of pixels indicates an abundance ratio of corresponding each of the basis materials that is present at each of the pixel. The extracting unit extracts an artifact region, on a basis of attenuation coefficients of each of the pixels calculated from the pieces of basis material image data each of which corresponds to a different one of the basis materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yuko Takamatsu, Hiroki Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9629596
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus has a scanner, a pre-scan control unit, an image generating unit, a region setting unit and a timing sensing unit. The pre-scan control unit controls an operation of the scanner to perform a pre-scan. The image generating unit generates image data of the object based upon the pre-scan. The region setting unit sets, on the basis of the image data, a region of interest, and a larger region encompassing the region of interest and a region around the region of interest and being used to determine whether or not a high pixel value region exists. The timing sensing unit senses, if the larger region does not include a pixel value higher than a first threshold, a timing to start a main scan, at which a pixel value of the region of interest exceeds a second threshold after injection of the contrast medium agent is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Taguchi, Masaharu Tsuyuki
  • Patent number: 9610055
    Abstract: The X-ray CT apparatus includes an X-ray tube, a high-voltage power supply, an X-ray detector and a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry reconstructs, as a first image, any of a monochromatic X-ray image and a polychromatic X-ray image on a basis of pre-reconstruction data acquired by scanning an object, the polychromatic X-ray image being taken in a first X-ray energy band. The processing circuitry reconstructs, as a second image, a polychromatic X-ray image taken in a second X-ray energy band wider than the first X-ray energy band on a basis of a pre-reconstruction data acquired by scanning the object. The processing circuitry identifies an area of a correction target in the first image as a correction area. The processing circuitry corrects the correction area in the second image on a basis of the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Taguchi, John Gulik
  • Patent number: 9532759
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus includes an image generating unit, a discrimination unit, a monochromatic X-ray image generating unit, a combined-image generating unit and a display unit. The image generating unit generates a plurality of reference material images corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of reference materials on a basis of pre-reconstruction data of multi-energy obtained by scanning a subject. The discrimination unit discriminates each of a plurality of materials contained in an imaging region of the subject on a basis of the plurality of reference material images. The monochromatic X-ray image generating unit generates a monochromatic X-ray image at energy determined by each of the plurality of discriminated materials. The combined-image generating unit combines a plurality of monochromatic X-ray images corresponding to the plurality of materials and to generate a combined image. The display unit displays the combined image on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Taguchi, Tatsuo Maeda
  • Patent number: 9456790
    Abstract: Based on a plurality of detection data sets acquired by a data acquisition unit and correspond to respective tube voltages, an image generator generates a plurality of reference substance image data sets targeting respective reference substances contained in a subject. The image generator generates a correction data set for each of the plurality of tube voltages by applying, to a detection data set corresponding to each of the tube voltages, a correction coefficient for suppressing a discrepancy of an actual energy spectrum of the X-rays detected by an X-ray detector from a predetermined X-ray energy spectrum, and generates the plurality of reference substance image data sets based on a plurality of correction data sets corresponding to the respective tube voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Taguchi, Satoru Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9418451
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus of an embodiment displays an image of the inside of an object based on projection data obtained by scanning the object, and comprises a generator, a converter, an image forming part and an identifier. The generator scans the object with each of X-rays of different energy levels and generates multiple projection data. The converter converts the multiple projection data into multiple new projection data corresponding to multiple reference substances. The image forming part reconstructs each of the multiple new projection data converted by the converter, thereby forming multiple reference substance images corresponding to the multiple reference substances. The identifier identifies a target substance based on a correlation of pixel values in the multiple reference substance images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Taguchi, Masaharu Tsuyuki
  • Publication number: 20160120496
    Abstract: An X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to the present embodiment comprises a gantry and a tube current setting circuitry. The tube current setting circuitry set tube currents for the respective imaging regions. To be specific, the tube current setting circuitry calculate X-ray absorption index values in the respective imaging regions, based on scanogram image data, determine tube current values corresponding to the X-ray absorption index values for the respective imaging regions, and correct the tube current values of the respective imaging regions except for a reference region based on a relative relationship between an X-ray absorption index value of the reference imaging region and tube current values of the other imaging regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro GOTO, Naruomi AKINO, Yoshinori UEBAYASHI, Hiroki TAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 9307947
    Abstract: An image diagnostic apparatus of an embodiment includes a density change acquisition unit, a trigger generating unit and a control unit. The density change acquisition unit is configured to acquire data corresponding to a temporal change in density of a contrast agent injected into an object. The trigger generating unit is configured to generate a trigger when abnormal data has been detected by a first threshold processing of the data. The trigger is generated by a second threshold processing of data other than the abnormal data. The control unit is configured to perform a control of contrast imaging for the object based on the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Taguchi, Masaharu Tsuyuki
  • Publication number: 20160000396
    Abstract: The X-ray CT apparatus includes an X-ray tube, a high-voltage power supply, an X-ray detector and a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry reconstructs, as a first image, any of a monochromatic X-ray image and a polychromatic X-ray image on a basis of pre-reconstruction data acquired by scanning an object, the polychromatic X-ray image being taken in a first X-ray energy band. The processing circuitry reconstructs, as a second image, a polychromatic X-ray image taken in a second X-ray energy band wider than the first X-ray energy band on a basis of a pre-reconstruction data acquired by scanning the object. The processing circuitry identifies an area of a correction target in the first image as a correction area. The processing circuitry corrects the correction area in the second image on a basis of the first image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki TAGUCHI, John GULIK
  • Publication number: 20150348292
    Abstract: An X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to embodiments includes image processing circuitry and decomposition circuitry. The image processing circuitry is configured to perform an image processing on each of a plurality of pieces of monochromatic X-ray image data of different energies, the plurality of pieces of monochromatic X-ray image data being generated from projection data. The decomposition circuitry is configured to decompose, for each of a plurality of basis materials specified in advance, the plurality of pieces of monochromatic X-ray image data after the image processing, to generate basis material image data of each of the plurality of basis materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki TAGUCHI, Satoru NAKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20150164456
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a separating unit, a reconstructing unit, and an extracting unit. The separating unit separates projection data into pieces of line-integrated data each of which corresponds to a different one of basis materials set in advance. The reconstructing unit reconstructs pieces of basis material image data from the pieces of line-integrated data each of which corresponds to a different one of the basis materials, the pieces of basis material image data being configured so that each pixel value of each of pixels indicates an abundance ratio of corresponding each of the basis materials that is present at each of the pixel. The extracting unit extracts an artifact region, on a basis of attenuation coefficients of each of the pixels calculated from the pieces of basis material image data each of which corresponds to a different one of the basis materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yuko TAKAMATSU, Hiroki Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20150063529
    Abstract: Based on a plurality of detection data sets acquired by a data acquisition unit and correspond to respective tube voltages, an image generator generates a plurality of reference substance image data sets targeting respective reference substances contained in a subject. The image generator generates a correction data set for each of the plurality of tube voltages by applying, to a detection data set corresponding to each of the tube voltages, a correction coefficient for suppressing a discrepancy of an actual energy spectrum of the X-rays detected by an X-ray detector from a predetermined X-ray energy spectrum, and generates the plurality of reference substance image data sets based on a plurality of correction data sets corresponding to the respective tube voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki TAGUCHI, Satoru NAKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20140321603
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus includes an image generating unit, a discrimination unit, a monochromatic X-ray image generating unit, a combined-image generating unit and a display unit. The image generating unit generates a plurality of reference material images corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of reference materials on a basis of pre-reconstruction data of multi-energy obtained by scanning a subject. The discrimination unit discriminates each of a plurality of materials contained in an imaging region of the subject on a basis of the plurality of reference material images. The monochromatic X-ray image generating unit generates a monochromatic X-ray image at energy determined by each of the plurality of discriminated materials. The combined-image generating unit combines a plurality of monochromatic X-ray images corresponding to the plurality of materials and to generate a combined image. The display unit displays the combined image on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki TAGUCHI, Tatsuo MAEDA
  • Patent number: 8761339
    Abstract: An image diagnostic apparatus including a scan unit to repeatedly scan a subject to repeatedly acquire acquisition data related to the subject, a generation unit to generate medical images related to the subject based on the acquired acquisition data, a monitoring unit to monitor a change in the medical images based on a specified pixel value band having an upper limit and a lower limit, a controller unit to control timing of a predetermined action of the scan unit based on of the change in the medical images monitored by the monitor unit, wherein the predetermined action of the scan unit is at least one of changing a scan condition, stopping a scan, and outputting guidance to the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Tsuyuki, Hiroki Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20130287260
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus of an embodiment displays an image of the inside of an object based on projection data obtained by scanning the object, and comprises a generator, a converter, an image forming part and an identifier. The generator scans the object with each of X-rays of different energy levels and generates multiple projection data. The converter converts the multiple projection data into multiple new projection data corresponding to multiple reference substances. The image forming part reconstructs each of the multiple new projection data converted by the converter, thereby forming multiple reference substance images corresponding to the multiple reference substances. The identifier identifies a target substance based on a correlation of pixel values in the multiple reference substance images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicants: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiroki Taguchi, Masaharu Tsuyuki
  • Publication number: 20130012814
    Abstract: An image diagnostic apparatus of an embodiment includes a density change acquisition unit, a trigger generating unit and a control unit. The density change acquisition unit is configured to acquire data corresponding to a temporal change in density of a contact agent injected into an object. The trigger generating unit is configured to generate a trigger when abnormal data has been detected by a first threshold processing of the data. The trigger is generated by a second threshold processing of data other than the abnormal data. The control unit is configured to perform a control of contrast imaging for the object based on the trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicants: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiroki TAGUCHI, Masaharu TSUYUKI
  • Publication number: 20130010922
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus has a scanner, a pre-scan control unit, an image generating unit, a region setting unit and a timing sensing unit. The pre-scan control unit controls an operation of the scanner to perform a pre-scan. The image generating unit generates image data of the object based upon the pre-scan. The region setting unit sets, on the basis of the image data, a region of interest, and a larger region encompassing the region of interest and a region around the region of interest and being used to determine whether or not a high pixel value region exists. The timing sensing unit senses, if the larger region does not include a pixel value higher than a first threshold, a timing to start a main scan, at which a pixel value of the region of interest exceeds a second threshold after injection of the contrast medium agent is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicants: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiroki TAGUCHI, Masaharu TSUYUKI