Abstract: A composition information obtaining unit calculates a mammary gland/fat ratio and a first information obtaining unit obtains imaged contrast information representing a contrast of the radiation image. A second information obtaining unit sets target application condition of X-ray, and obtains target contrast information representing an intended contrast for the radiation image based on the intended application condition. A contrast correction amount determination unit determines a contrast correction amount based on the imaged contrast information and the target contrast information. An image processing unit performs image processing, including gradation processing based on the determined contrast correction amount, on the radiation image, and obtains a processed radiation image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image obtaining device which obtains a breast image obtained by radiography of a breast; a mammary gland region extracting device which extracts a mammary gland region from the breast image; a local region setting device which sets a plurality of local regions around pixels belonging to the extracted mammary gland region; a local contrast value calculating device which calculates a plurality of local contrast values in a local regions, for each of the set plurality of local regions; and an image processing device which applies image processing to the breast image on the basis of the calculated plurality of local contrast values. Thus, considering a contrast between a mammary gland and a fat region, a stable image processing result can be obtained while enhancing viewability of a local mammary gland structure and a lesion.

Abstract: An apparatus for aiding photographing of a medical image, including an image acquiring device for acquiring a medical image obtained by radiation-photographing of a part including a diagnosis target region of a test subject; a positioning evaluating device for analyzing the acquired medical image and evaluating positioning of the test subject at a time of the radiation-photographing; a positioning cautions creating device for creating positioning cautions based on an evaluation result by the positioning evaluating device; and a positioning cautions presenting device for presenting the positioning cautions created by the positioning cautions creating device.

Abstract: A mammary gland content rate estimating apparatus, includes: a breast image acquiring device which acquires a breast image obtained by radiographing a breast by a mammography imaging apparatus; an adipose image estimating device which estimates an adipose image from the acquired breast image based on an assumption that an entire breast is composed of only adipose tissues; a device which acquires a pixel value of a directly irradiated region from the acquired breast image; and a mammary gland content rate calculating device which calculates a mammary gland content rate for each of pixels in the breast image based on the acquired breast image, the estimated adipose image and the acquired pixel value of the directly irradiated region. Accordingly, without requiring complicated calibration in advance, the mammary gland content rate can be estimated for each of pixels easily and precisely.

Abstract: Improving diagnosis performance by matching the appearances of images while maintaining difference arising from the difference in tissue structure without being influenced by a non-interest region. Two medical images are divided into a plurality of tissue regions, each with each tissue imaged therein, and a similarity level is calculated for each corresponding pair of the plurality of tissue regions between the two medical images based on the form of each tissue region. An interest level is set for each corresponding pair and a weigh is obtained for each corresponding pair according to the similarity level and interest level. An image processing condition is set such that the matching level of an image characteristic of each corresponding pair is varied according to the weight, and image processing is performed on at least either one of the two medical images according to the set image processing condition.

Abstract: A multiple resolution converting means administers multiple resolution conversion on a plurality of radiation images, which are targets of comparison, to generate a plurality of band images having different frequency bands. An image processing means administers image processes on the plurality of band images having corresponding frequency bands to match the appearances thereof, based on anatomical information of structures included in the mammogram MA reconstructing means reconstructs the band images, on which the image processes have been administered, to generate processed radiation images.

Abstract: An information obtaining means obtains imaging information related to states during imaging and positioning information related to positioning of breasts during imaging regarding a plurality of mammograms, which are targets of comparison. An image processing means administers image processes onto the plurality of mammograms based on predetermined image processing conditions. A judging means judges whether image processes are to be administered onto the plurality of mammograms according to the same image processing conditions, based on the imaging information and the positioning information.

Abstract: A mammary gland content rate r(x, y) is calculated for each pixel of a mammogram obtained by a radiation imaging apparatus. Thereafter, an average value rave of the mammary gland content rates within a breast region MR is calculated, using the mammary gland content rates r(x, y) of each pixel. Abnormal pixels that constitute abnormal patterns are detected, employing the mammary gland content rates r(x, y), the average value rave, and a set reference value Rref.

Abstract: A mammary gland content rate estimating apparatus, includes: a breast image acquiring device which acquires a breast image obtained by radiographing a breast by a mammography imaging apparatus; an adipose image estimating device which estimates an adipose image from the acquired breast image based on an assumption that an entire breast is composed of only adipose tissues; a device which acquires a pixel value of a directly irradiated region from the acquired breast image; and a mammary gland content rate calculating device which calculates a mammary gland content rate for each of pixels in the breast image based on the acquired breast image, the estimated adipose image and the acquired pixel value of the directly irradiated region. Accordingly, without requiring complicated calibration in advance, the mammary gland content rate can be estimated for each of pixels easily and precisely.

Abstract: An apparatus for aiding photographing of a medical image, including an image acquiring device for acquiring a medical image obtained by radiation-photographing of a part including a diagnosis target region of a test subject; a positioning evaluating device for analyzing the acquired medical image and evaluating positioning of the test subject at a time of the radiation-photographing; a positioning cautions creating device for creating positioning cautions based on an evaluation result by the positioning evaluating device; and a positioning cautions presenting device for presenting the positioning cautions created by the positioning cautions creating device.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image obtaining device which obtains a breast image obtained by radiography of a breast; a mammary gland region extracting device which extracts a mammary gland region from the breast image; a local region setting device which sets a plurality of local regions around pixels belonging to the extracted mammary gland region; a local contrast value calculating device which calculates a plurality of local contrast values in a local regions, for each of the set plurality of local regions; and an image processing device which applies image processing to the breast image on the basis of the calculated plurality of local contrast values. Thus, considering a contrast between a mammary gland and a fat region, a stable image processing result can be obtained while enhancing viewability of a local mammary gland structure and a lesion.

Abstract: Improving diagnosis performance by matching the appearances of images while maintaining difference arising from the difference in tissue structure without being influenced by a non-interest region. Two medical images are divided into a plurality of tissue regions, each with each tissue imaged therein, and a similarity level is calculated for each corresponding pair of the plurality of tissue regions between the two medical images based on the form of each tissue region. An interest level is set for each corresponding pair and a weigh is obtained for each corresponding pair according to the similarity level and interest level. An image processing condition is set such that the matching level of an image characteristic of each corresponding pair is varied according to the weight, and image processing is performed on at lest either one of the two medical images according to the set image processing condition.

Abstract: A radio communication apparatus that transmits and receives a signal via an antenna duplexer, the apparatus that includes a dividing unit that divides part of a transmitting signal to be transmitted via the antenna duplexer. Also included is a conversion unit that converts a receiving signal of a first frequency band received via the antenna duplexer into a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band. In addition, the apparatus includes an extraction unit converting a noise component of the first frequency band included in the transmitting signal divided by the dividing unit into the second frequency band and extracting the noise component. Moreover, the apparatus includes an inversion unit that inverts the phase of the noise component extracted by the extraction unit. Also included is a combining unit that combines the receiving signal converted by the conversion unit and the noise component inverted by the inversion unit.