Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Kitaguchi

Hiroshi Kitaguchi 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: 20060243915
    Abstract: Each semiconductor radiation detector used for a nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus (PET apparatus) is constructed with an anode electrode A facing a cathode electrode C sandwiching a CdTe semiconductor member S which generates charge through interaction with ?-rays. Then, a thickness t of the semiconductor member S sandwiched between these mutually facing anode electrode A and cathode electrode C is set to 0.2 to 2 mm. Furthermore, the devices are mounted (laid out) on substrates in such a way that the distance (distance of conductor) between the semiconductor radiation detector and an analog ASIC which processes the signal detected by this detector is shortened. Furthermore, the substrates on which the detectors are mounted are housed in a housing as a unit (detector unit).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Kensuke Amemiya, Yuuichirou Ueno, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Osamu Yokomizo, Shinichi Kojima, Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Norihito Yanagita, Kazuma Yokoi
  • Patent number: 7127026
    Abstract: A radiological imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an X-ray source for emitting an X-ray, a ?-ray detecting section for outputting a detection signal of a ?-ray, and an X-ray detecting section for outputting a detecting signal of an X-ray. The X-ray source moves around a bed for placing an examinee. The ?-ray detecting section has a plurality of radiation detectors aligned in the longitudinal direction of the bed and placed around the bed. The X-ray detecting section is positioned in a region formed between one end and the other end of the ?-ray detecting section in the longitudinal direction of the bed. The X-ray source is also positioned in the region. Since the X-ray detecting section is placed in the region, it is possible to accurately combine a PET image and an X-ray computed tomographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Amemiya, Yuuichirou Ueno, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kikuo Umegaki, Shinichi Kojima, Norihito Yanagida, Kazuma Yokoi, Takashi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 7119340
    Abstract: In a gamma camera, a plurality of radiation detector elements having a rod-shaped first electrode, a semiconductor device surrounds the first electrode to contact with it for entering a radiation, and a second electrode provided for the side surface of the semiconductor device are detachably attached to a holding member. The holding member has a first electrode contact portion contacted with the first electrode and a second electrode contact portion contacted with the second electrode. A collimator in which a plurality of radiation paths provided corresponding to the plurality of radiation detector elements are formed is arranged on the radiation entering side of the plurality of radiation detector elements. A ?-ray detection signal outputted from the first electrode contact portion is sent to a signal processing integrated circuit. A high voltage is applied to the second electrode via the second electrode contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kazuma Yokoi, Kikuo Umegaki, Kensuke Amemiya, Yuuichirou Ueno, Norihito Yanagita, Shinichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7115877
    Abstract: In a gamma camera, a plurality of radiation detector elements having a rod-shaped first electrode, a semiconductor device surrounds the first electrode to contact with it for entering a radiation, and a second electrode provided for the side surface of the semiconductor device are detachably attached to a holding member. The holding member has a first electrode contact portion contacted with the first electrode and a second electrode contact portion contacted with the second electrode. A collimator in which a plurality of radiation paths provided corresponding to the plurality of radiation detector elements are formed is arranged on the radiation entering side of the plurality of radiation detector elements. A ?-ray detection signal outputted from the first electrode contact portion is sent to a signal processing integrated circuit. A high voltage is applied to the second electrode via the second electrode contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kazuma Yokoi, Kikuo Umegaki, Kensuke Amemiya, Yuuichirou Ueno, Norihito Yanagita, Shinichi Kojima
  • Publication number: 20060214110
    Abstract: A radiological imaging apparatus of the present invention comprises an image pickup device and a medical examinee holding device that is provided with a bed. The image pickup device includes a large number of radiation detectors and radiation detector support plates. A large number of radiation detectors are mounted around the circumference of a through-hole and arranged in the axial direction of the through-hole. The radiation detectors are arranged in three layers formed radially with respect to the center of the through-hole and mounted on the lateral surfaces of the radiation detector support plates. Since the radiation detectors are not only arranged in the axial direction and circumferential direction of the through-hole but also arrayed in the radial direction, it is possible to obtain accurate information about a ?-ray arrival position in the radial direction of the through-hole (the positional information about a radiation detector from which a ?-ray image pickup signal is output).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Shinichi Kojima, Takashi Okazaki, Yuuichirou Ueno, Kikuo Umegaki, Kensuke Amemiya, Kazuhiro Takeuchi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kazuma Yokoi, Norihito Yanagita
  • Patent number: 7113563
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of an output signal of the X-ray sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit removes a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray sensor and integrates the output signal of the X-ray sensor having the DC component removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Patent number: 7101532
    Abstract: A liposome containing a hydrophobic iodine compound such as a 1,3,5-triiodobenzene derivative having at least one substituent containing 18 or more carbon atoms as a membrane component, and an X-ray contrast medium containing the liposome for use in radiography of a vascular disease and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Aikawa, Hiroshi Kitaguchi
  • Publication number: 20060192127
    Abstract: A ?-ray signal processing section 60? determines a detection time of a ? ray based on a ?-ray detection signal outputted from a semiconductor radiation detector for detecting the ? ray, and determines the energy of the ? ray. Then, a time correction circuit 70 obtains, based on the energy of the ? ray, a detection value of the detection time that corresponds to the energy of the ? ray from a time correction table indicating the relationship between the energy of the ? ray and the correction value of the detection time of the ? ray, and corrects the detection time according to the obtained correction value of the detection time. Coincidence counting is performed on the ? ray in a coincidence counting circuit 80 based on the corrected detection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventors: Norihito Yanagita, Yuuichirou Ueno, Kensuke Amemiya, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Shinichi Kojima, Kazuma Yokoi, Takafumi Ishitsu
  • Publication number: 20060188059
    Abstract: A radiological imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an X-ray source for emitting an X-ray, a ?-ray detecting section for outputting a detection signal of a ?-ray, and an X-ray detecting section for outputting a detecting signal of an X-ray. The X-ray source moves around a bed for placing an examinee. The ?-ray detecting section has a plurality of radiation detectors aligned in the longitudinal direction of the bed and placed around the bed. The X-ray detecting section is positioned in a region formed between one end and the other end of the ?-ray detecting section in the longitudinal direction of the bed. The X-ray source is also positioned in the region. Since the X-ray detecting section is placed in the region, it is possible to accurately combine a PET image and an X-ray computed tomographic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Kensuke Amemiya, Yuuichirou Ueno, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kikuo Umegaki, Shinichi Kojima, Norihito Yanagida, Kazuma Yokoi, Takashi Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20060153339
    Abstract: The image pickup apparatus of the radiological imaging apparatus of the present invention includes many detector units, a ring-shaped detector support member and an X-ray source circumferential transport apparatus. Each of the detector units is attached to the detector support section in a detachable manner. A plurality of radiation detectors provided for the detector units are arranged in three layers in the radius direction of the detector support member and in three columns in the axial direction of the detector support member. Since the radiation detectors are arranged in three layers in the radius direction, it is possible to recognize the detection position of radiation in the radius direction in detail. Furthermore, since the detector units are attached in a detachable manner, it is easy to replace damaged radiation detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Yuuichirou Ueno, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kensuke Amemiya, Kikuo Umegaki, Norihito Yanagita, Shinichi Kojima, Kazuma Yokoi
  • Patent number: 7053376
    Abstract: A radiological imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an X-ray source for emitting an X-ray, a ?-ray detecting section for outputting a detection signal of a ?-ray, and an X-ray detecting section for outputting a detecting signal of an X-ray. The X-ray source moves around a bed for placing an examinee. The ?-ray detecting section has a plurality of radiation detectors aligned in the longitudinal direction of the bed and placed around the bed. The X-ray detecting section is positioned in a region formed between one end and the other end of the ?-ray detecting section in the longitudinal direction of the bed. The X-ray source is also positioned in the region. Since the X-ray detecting section is placed in the region, it is possible to accurately combine a PET image and an X-ray computed tomographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Amemiya, Yuuichirou Ueno, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kikuo Umegaki, Shinichi Kojima, Norihito Yanagida, Kazuma Yokoi, Takashi Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20060086907
    Abstract: A radiological imaging apparatus allowing semiconductor radiation detectors to be easily replaced with new ones and densely arranged. Terminals (31cjk) and (33cjk) are provided on a bottom surface of a detector aggregate (40mn) including a plurality of semiconductor radiation detectors (1); the terminals is connected to electrodes (3 and 4) of the detectors (1). A plurality of zero insertion force connectors (56) are provided on a connecting device (33jk) installed on a support substrate (32h). The terminals (31cjk and 33cjk) are detachably attached to the zero insertion force connectors (56) to mount the detector aggregates (40mn) that are the semiconductor radiation detectors (1), on the support substrate (32h). When the detector aggregates (40mn) are attached to the zero insertion force connectors (56), since no frictional force acts on the terminals, the size of the gap between the detector aggregates (40mn) is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Kazuma Yokoi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Takafumi Ishitsu, Naoyuki Yamada, Kensuke Amemiya, Yuuichirou Ueno, Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Norihito Yanagita
  • Patent number: 7026622
    Abstract: A radiological imaging apparatus of the present invention comprises an image pickup device and a medical examinee holding device that is provided with a bed. The image pickup device includes a large number of radiation detectors and radiation detector support plates. A large number of radiation detectors are mounted around the circumference of a through-hole and arranged in the axial direction of the through-hole. The radiation detectors are arranged in three layers formed radially with respect to the center of the through-hole and mounted on the lateral surfaces of the radiation detector support plates. Since the radiation detectors are not only arranged in the axial direction and circumferential direction of the through-hole but also arrayed in the radial direction, it is possible to obtain accurate information about a ?-ray arrival position in the radial direction of the through-hole (the positional information about a radiation detector from which a ?-ray image pickup signal is output).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kojima, Takashi Okazaki, Yuuichirou Ueno, Kikuo Umegaki, Kensuke Amemiya, Kazuhiro Takeuchi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kazuma Yokoi, Norihito Yanagita
  • Publication number: 20060065847
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor radiation detector and radiation detection apparatus capable of improving energy resolution and the semiconductor radiation detection apparatus includes a semiconductor radiation detector and a signal processing circuit which processes a radiation detection signal output from the semiconductor radiation detector. The semiconductor radiation detector is provided with anode electrodes A and cathode electrodes C disposed so as to face each other with semiconductor radiation detection elements placed in-between. The semiconductor radiation detection element is made up of a single crystal of thallous bromide containing trivalent thallium (e.g., tribromobis thallium). The semiconductor radiation detector containing such a semiconductor radiation detection element reduces lattice defects in the single crystal and thereby increases charge collection efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kensuke Amemiya, Kazuma Yokoi, Yuuichirou Ueno, Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Norihito Yanagita, Shinichi Kojima, Keitaro Hitomi, Tadayoshi Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060065836
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a radiation imaging apparatus and radiation-imaging-apparatus-based nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatus having a collimator in which a plurality of rectangular through-holes are arranged in a grid pattern and separated by septa is rotated through a predetermined angle as viewed from above in relation to the layout of a plurality of rectangular detectors that are arranged in a grid pattern. The predetermined angle ranges from 20 to 70 degree and more preferably from 30 deg to 60 deg. With this configuration, the influence of sensitivity variations (moire patterns) that are included in an image picked up due to interference with a collimator when pixel type detectors are used is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Yuichi Morimoto, Shinya Kominami, Kazuma Yokoi, Tsuneaki Kawaguchi, Masatoshi Tanaka, Takafumi Ishitsu
  • Publication number: 20060062726
    Abstract: A compound represented by the following general formula (IA) or a salt thereof: wherein Ar1 represents hydrogen atom or an aryl group having at least one iodine atom as a substituent; Ar2 represents an aryl group having at least one iodine atom as a substituent; L1 and L2 independently represent a divalent bridging group of which main chain contains 6 or more carbon atoms; L3 represents a single bond or a divalent bridging group of which main chain contains 1 to 6 carbon atoms and one oxygen atom; X represents a functional group containing at least one heteroatom, provided that, when L3 is a single bond, X represents a functional group other than hydroxyl group. The compound can be used as a membrane component of liposomes, and the liposomes can be used as a contrast medium for X-ray radiography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Kazunobu Takahashi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kazuhiro Aikawa
  • Patent number: 7008614
    Abstract: A liposome containing a hydrophobic iodine compound represented by the following general formula (I) as a membrane component: R1—CO2—R2 wherein R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted 2,3,5-triiodophenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted 3,4,5-triiodophenyl group; and R2 represents a hydrocarbon group having 10 or more carbon atoms, and an X-ray contrast medium, which comprises said liposome which is used for radiography of a vascular disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kazuhiro Aikawa
  • Publication number: 20060043309
    Abstract: In a radiological imaging apparatus, a radiation detecting section includes semiconductor detectors arranged in four columns and four rows. Each of the semiconductor detectors includes a semiconductor base material, and an anode electrode film (first electrode film) and a cathode electrode film (second electrode film) lying opposite each other so as to sandwich the semiconductor base material between them. A first conductive member is installed on each first electrode film. Second electrode films of four semiconductor detectors within a row are connected together using one second conductive member. A shaping amplifier connected to the first conductive members with a wire executes a waveform shaping process using a shaping time shorter than that of a shaping amplifier connected to the second conductive member with a wire; the first conductive members are provided for the four semiconductor detectors within a column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Kazuma Yokoi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Takafumi Ishitsu, Naoyuki Yamada, Kensuke Amemiya, Yuuichirou Ueno, Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Norihito Yanagita
  • Publication number: 20060034420
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of an output signal of the X-ray sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit removes a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray sensor and integrates the output signal of the X-ray sensor having the DC component removed therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Patent number: 6976784
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus of a radiological imaging apparatus includes a plurality of radiation detectors arranged in a ring form around a through hole section formed on a casing into which an examinee is inserted. An X-ray source unit having an X-ray source moves in a circumferential direction of the through hole section along a ring-shaped guide rail provided on the casing. Each radiation detector outputs both an X-ray detection signal which is a detection signal of X-rays that have passed through the examinee and a ?-ray detection signal which is a detection signal of ?-rays radiated from the examinee caused by radiopharmaceutical. A computer creates an X-ray computed tomographic image data based on the X-ray detection signal and a PET image data based on the ?-ray detection signal and creates fused tomographic image data using the X-ray computed tomographic image data and the PET image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kojima, Kikuo Umegaki, Takashi Okazaki, Kensuke Amemiya, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Yuuichirou Ueno