Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus for diagnosis generates a closed curve which precisely reproduces the shape of the indwelled stent and the shape of the inner wall of the biological tissue at the indwelling position of the stent. The optical imaging apparatus analyzes intensity change in transmission direction of the light from the transmission and reception unit for every one of the respective line data; based on the result of the analysis detects pixel data expressing the stent position in the transmission direction; labels each pixel data expressing the detected stent position; eliminates, within the respective labeling groups applied with the same labels, labeling groups in each of which the number of pixel data in the circumferential direction is a predetermined value or less; calculates center position for each labeling group not eliminated; and generates a stent closed-curve using the center position of each labeling group.

Abstract: A radiopaque marker detection method of detecting the radiopaque marker disposed in a probe on multiple X-ray images captured while the probe for acquiring the tomographic image moves in an axial direction of a catheter, a position of the radiopaque marker disposed in the probe on each of the multiple X-ray images captured during the movement of the probe is detected from the X-ray images captured during a predetermined period before the probe starts to move, by extracting a line extending along the probe and using the extracted line.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and method for diagnosis acquiring information of an inside of a blood vessel and reconstructing a vascular image are disclosed, wherein when acquiring data through a rotation position and a movement of an imaging core, X-ray images at a fixed viewpoint position are synchronized so as to be continuously input along a time axis. Then, timing when vascular activity such as a cardiac beat can occur is determined based on the X-ray images. A plurality of vascular cross-sectional images on a plane orthogonal to a vascular axis acquired through the rotation and the movement of the imaging core are acquired. Then, a vascular image along the vascular axis is generated from the vascular cross-sectional image or the vascular cross-sectional images in series, and when performing a display, a site having vascular activity is displayed in a discriminable manner.

Abstract: In an imaging system, vascular tomographic images and vascular fluoroscopic images which each include a plurality of frames are collected. A position of an image of the probe included in each of the frames of the fluoroscopic images is acquired. The frame of the fluoroscopic image and the frame of the tomographic image which is taken at substantially the same time as the frame of the fluoroscopic image are displayed at the same time. A position of a blood vessel designated by a user is acquired from the displayed frame of the fluoroscopic image. The frame of the fluoroscopic image which includes the image of the probe at a position closer to the position of the blood vessel designated by the user is displayed at the same time as the frame of the tomographic image which is taken at substantially the same time as the frame of the fluoroscopic image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for diagnosis comprises a display unit configured to display a longitudinal-sectional image in a first display area, and display a cross-sectional image corresponding to an arbitrary position in an axial direction in the longitudinal-sectional image in a second display area; a signal processing unit divides the second display area into at least two individual areas in case of accepting an instruction to the effect that a predetermined operation is executed with respect to the first display area; and the signal processing unit displays indicators in the first display area, wherein in a case in which the second display area is divided into at least two individual areas, cross-sectional images corresponding to the axial direction position are displayed by at least two indicators in respective individual areas.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for diagnosis is provided in which a simpler configuration enables an anatomical technique and a physiological technique to be used in combination. The imaging apparatus for diagnosis disclosed herein includes a first calculator for calculating a parameter indicating each deformation degree of measurement slit portions, by using a tomographic image including the measurement slit portions which are disposed at different positions in an axial direction of a probe unit and whose cross-sectional shape is deformed in response to a pressure applied to the probe unit, and a second calculator for calculating a value corresponding to a myocardial fractional flow reserve, based on the calculated parameter.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for helping prevent image quality of a three-dimensional image from becoming poor due to fluctuations in the rotation speed of an imaging core. For this purpose, if data is obtained from the imaging core by moving and rotating the imaging core, a cross-sectional image is generated at each movement position. Then, a direction where a guidewire is present in each of the cross-sectional images is detected. An angular difference between the direction of the detected guidewire and a preset direction is obtained so as to rotate each of the cross-sectional images in accordance with the angular difference. Then, the cross-sectional images which are previously rotated in this way are connected to one another, thereby generating the three-dimensional image.

Abstract: A radiopaque marker detection method of detecting the radiopaque marker disposed in a probe on multiple X-ray images captured while the probe for acquiring the tomographic image moves in an axial direction of a catheter, a position of the radiopaque marker disposed in the probe on each of the multiple X-ray images captured during the movement of the probe is detected from the X-ray images captured during a predetermined period before the probe starts to move, by extracting a line extending along the probe and using the extracted line.

Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus for diagnosis generates a closed curve which precisely reproduces the shape of the indwelled stent and the shape of the inner wall of the biological tissue at the indwelling position of the stent. The optical imaging apparatus analyzes intensity change in transmission direction of the light from the transmission and reception unit for every one of the respective line data; based on the result of the analysis detects pixel data expressing the stent position in the transmission direction; labels each pixel data expressing the detected stent position; eliminates, within the respective labeling groups applied with the same labels, labeling groups in each of which the number of pixel data in the circumferential direction is a predetermined value or less; calculates center position for each labeling group not eliminated; and generates a stent closed-curve using the center position of each labeling group.

Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus for diagnosis generates a closed curve which precisely reproduces the shape of the indwelled stent and the shape of the inner wall of the biological tissue at the indwelling position of the stent. The optical imaging apparatus analyzes intensity change in transmission direction of the light from the transmission and reception unit for every one of the respective line data; based on the result of the analysis detects pixel data expressing the stent position in the transmission direction; labels each pixel data expressing the detected stent position; eliminates, within the respective labeling groups applied with the same labels, labeling groups in each of which the number of pixel data in the circumferential direction is a predetermined value or less; calculates center position for each labeling group not eliminated; and generates a stent closed-curve using the center position of each labeling group.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for diagnosis and a control method of an imaging apparatus for diagnosis are disclosed, which acquire line data represented by multiple luminance values in a radial direction from a rotation center position of an imaging core, which are derived by a rotation position and movement of the imaging core. Then, based on the acquired line data, an image of a two-dimensional space in which ? representing a rotation angle and z representing a position in a movement direction are set to two axes is generated and displayed.

Abstract: In an imaging system, a vascular image extending along a vascular length direction, which is obtained from multiple transverse cross-sectional images of a blood vessel imaged by inserting a probe into the blood vessel, and multiple fluoroscopic images of the blood vessel imaged while the probe is inserted into the blood vessel are collected. A first position and a second position along the vascular length direction, which are designated by a user on the displayed vascular image, are acquired. The vascular image and the fluoroscopic image indicating the first position and the second position are displayed.

Abstract: In an imaging system, vascular tomographic images and vascular fluoroscopic images which each include a plurality of frames are collected. A position of an image of the probe included in each of the frames of the fluoroscopic images is acquired. The frame of the fluoroscopic image and the frame of the tomographic image which is taken at substantially the same time as the frame of the fluoroscopic image are displayed at the same time. A position of a blood vessel designated by a user is acquired from the displayed frame of the fluoroscopic image. The frame of the fluoroscopic image which includes the image of the probe at a position closer to the position of the blood vessel designated by the user is displayed at the same time as the frame of the tomographic image which is taken at substantially the same time as the frame of the fluoroscopic image.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an imaging apparatus radial-operating a transmitting and receiving unit and generating cross-sectional images inside the body cavity by a plurality of images, which includes: an X-ray image memory holding a plurality of X-ray images obtained by X-ray imaging the transmitting and receiving unit inside the body cavity by a predetermined imaging cycle, an image processing unit generating a cross-sectional moving image by setting the rotation cycle of the transmitting and receiving unit to be frame rate, and an image processing unit reading out an X-ray image, obtained from X-ray imaging just previously at every timing for every rotation cycle of the transmitting and receiving unit, from the X-ray image memory and generating an X-ray moving image by the frame rate.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and method for diagnosis acquiring information of an inside of a blood vessel and reconstructing a vascular image are disclosed, wherein when acquiring data through a rotation position and a movement of an imaging core, X-ray images at a fixed viewpoint position are synchronized so as to be continuously input along a time axis. Then, timing when vascular activity such as a cardiac beat can occur is determined based on the X-ray images. A plurality of vascular cross-sectional images on a plane orthogonal to a vascular axis acquired through the rotation and the movement of the imaging core are acquired. Then, a vascular image along the vascular axis is generated from the vascular cross-sectional image or the vascular cross-sectional images in series, and when performing a display, a site having vascular activity is displayed in a discriminable manner.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for helping prevent image quality of a three-dimensional image from becoming poor due to fluctuations in the rotation speed of an imaging core. For this purpose, if data is obtained from the imaging core by moving and rotating the imaging core, a cross-sectional image is generated at each movement position. Then, a direction where a guidewire is present in each of the cross-sectional images is detected. An angular difference between the direction of the detected guidewire and a preset direction is obtained so as to rotate each of the cross-sectional images in accordance with the angular difference. Then, the cross-sectional images which are previously rotated in this way are connected to one another, thereby generating the three-dimensional image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for diagnosis and a control method of an imaging apparatus for diagnosis are disclosed, which acquire line data represented by multiple luminance values in a radial direction from a rotation center position of an imaging core, which are derived by a rotation position and movement of the imaging core. Then, based on the acquired line data, an image of a two-dimensional space in which ? representing a rotation angle and z representing a position in a movement direction are set to two axes is generated and displayed.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for diagnosis and associated control method constructs multiple cross-sectional images in an axial direction inside the body lumen based on line data generated by radially operating a transmitting and receiving unit, and includes a receiving mechanism which receives a count value from a reference position of the transmitting and receiving unit, storage for storing the count value and the line data correlated with each other, an arrangement for constructing a longitudinal-sectional image by aligning the line data based on the count value, a display which displays the longitudinal-sectional image; and a mechanism which reads out line data correlated with the same count value as that of the line data disposed at the position appointed by the user on the displayed longitudinal-sectional image and reconstructing the cross-sectional image.

Abstract: An optical coherent tomographic image forming apparatus includes: a first switch for instructing rotation of the optical deflection unit at a first speed; a second switch for instructing rotation of the optical deflection unit at a second speed which is higher than the first speed; and a driving controller which drives the optical deflection unit rotationally at the first speed in case of detecting instruction operation of the first switch and which changes the rotation speed of the optical deflection unit to the second speed, in case of detecting instruction operation of the second switch, under the condition that the optical deflection unit rotates at the first speed when the second switch is instructionally operated.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for diagnosis is provided in which a simpler configuration enables an anatomical technique and a physiological technique to be used in combination. The imaging apparatus for diagnosis disclosed herein includes a first calculator for calculating a parameter indicating each deformation degree of measurement slit portions, by using a tomographic image including the measurement slit portions which are disposed at different positions in an axial direction of a probe unit and whose cross-sectional shape is deformed in response to a pressure applied to the probe unit, and a second calculator for calculating a value corresponding to a myocardial fractional flow reserve, based on the calculated parameter.