Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus and a medical image processing method capable of improving structural component detectability with respect to a noise component in a medical image. The medical image processing apparatus includes: a separation unit that separates the medical image into a first component including a structural component as a main component and a second component including a noise component as a main component; a modulation unit that modulates the second component with a spatial frequency; and a correction unit that generates a corrected image based on the first component and the modulated second component.

Abstract: A medical image processing device and a corresponding method are provided that can extract and enhance a signal in a medical image. A medical image processing device that applies image processing to a medical image, the device including an acquiring unit that acquires an original image, a first extraction unit that extracts a local bias component image, a creating unit that decomposes a difference image between the original image and the local bias component image into at least two frequency bands and creates a low-frequency component image formed of a component in the lowest frequency band, a second extraction unit that extracts a local bias component low-frequency image that is a local bias component of the low-frequency component image, and a computing unit that multiplies the local bias component low-frequency image by a gain, adds to the local bias component image, and computes a contrast enhanced image.

Abstract: An image is generated where an edge of a structure in a subject is sharpened with reducing streak artifacts, within a short amount of time. X-rays at multiple angles are applied to the subject placed in imaging space, and a distribution of X-rays strength passing through the subject is detected to obtain raw data associated with multiple views. After smoothing the raw data associated with multiple views, image reconstruction is performed to generate a smoothed image of a predetermined region to be imaged in the imaging space. In the smoothed image, more intense sharpening process is applied to pixels in a region of a central part of the subject, than the pixels in a region of a peripheral part of the subject.

Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus and a medical image processing method capable of improving structural component detectability with respect to a noise component in a medical image. The medical image processing apparatus includes: a separation unit that separates the medical image into a first component including a structural component as a main component and a second component including a noise component as a main component; a modulation unit that modulates the second component with a spatial frequency; and a correction unit that generates a corrected image based on the first component and the modulated second component.

Abstract: In order to determine noise intensity more accurately by a projection data division method using data after fan-parallel conversion, a plurality of projection data obtained by irradiating a scan object with radiations are received and subjected to prescribed data conversion; data after the conversion is divided into two or more sets; a reconstructed image is generated for each set of data; and the generated reconstructed image for each of the sets is subtracted to generate a difference image. An index indicating pixel value variation for at least one prescribed region on the difference image is calculated, the value of the index is corrected by a previously calculated correction value, and the corrected index value is regarded as noise intensity of the region.

Abstract: An image is generated where an edge of a structure in a subject is sharpened with reducing streak artifacts, within a short amount of time. X-rays at multiple angles are applied to the subject placed in imaging space, and a distribution of X-rays strength passing through the subject is detected to obtain raw data associated with multiple views. After smoothing the raw data associated with multiple views, image reconstruction is performed to generate a smoothed image of a predetermined region to be imaged in the imaging space. In the smoothed image, more intense sharpening process is applied to pixels in a region of a central part of the subject, than the pixels in a region of a peripheral part of the subject.

Abstract: A medical image processing device and a corresponding method are provided that can extract and enhance a signal in a medical image. A medical image processing device that applies image processing to a medical image, the device including an acquiring unit that acquires an original image, a first extraction unit that extracts a local bias component image, a creating unit that decomposes a difference image between the original image and the local bias component image into at least two frequency bands and creates a low-frequency component image formed of a component in the lowest frequency band, a second extraction unit that extracts a local bias component low-frequency image that is a local bias component of the low-frequency component image, and a computing unit that multiplies the local bias component low-frequency image by a gain, adds to the local bias component image, and computes a contrast enhanced image.

Abstract: A reconstruction image is generated with a small number of updates, with the use of an iterative approximation method. A specified tomographic image of a subject is received, and a process is performed two or more times, where an update process is performed according to the iterative approximation method, using the tomographic image as an initial image and an update image is obtained. Then, an update vector corresponding to a difference between thus generated update images of the update process performed twice is multiplied by predetermined coefficients, so as to generate an estimated update vector. Using this vector, an update image is generated. Then, this update image is used as a new initial image, and a process is repeated where the update process is performed according to the iterative approximation method and an update image is obtained, thereby generating a tomographic image of the subject.

Abstract: In order to provide a data processing device and the like, capable of performing highly accurate reference correction even in a case where an object protrudes in reference channels in most of the measurement views, an image processing device (data processing device) of an X-ray CT apparatus calculates a unit air calibration reference value which is a value per unit tube current of an air calibration reference value which is reference data measured during air calibration, calculates a reference value (estimated reference value) corresponding to an X-ray condition in the main scanning on the basis of an output tube current value in the main scanning and a unit air calibration reference value, and corrects normalized reference data obtained by normalizing a measured reference value in the main scanning with the estimated reference value, to be included in an allowable error range, so as to remove the influence of protrusion.

Abstract: In order to determine noise intensity more accurately by a projection data division method using data after fan-parallel conversion, a plurality of projection data obtained by irradiating a scan object with radiations are received and subjected to prescribed data conversion; data after the conversion is divided into two or more sets; a reconstructed image is generated for each set of data; and the generated reconstructed image for each of the sets is subtracted to generate a difference image. An index indicating pixel value variation for at least one prescribed region on the difference image is calculated, the value of the index is corrected by a previously calculated correction value, and the corrected index value is regarded as noise intensity of the region.

Abstract: In order to provide an X-ray CT apparatus and the like capable of obtaining an optimal X-ray dose for a dynamically changing X-ray irradiation region and reliably irradiating the X-ray irradiation region in a case where X-rays are applied with a spreading angle in a body axis direction, an X-ray CT apparatus 1 dynamically changes an X-ray irradiation region 201 for each view angle during scanning, and a system control device 124 changes a position of an analysis line 300 used to calculate an optimal tube current during scanning according to a position of the X-ray irradiation region 201 at each view angle, so as to obtain an optimal irradiation X-ray dose.

Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus includes an extraction unit that acquires air data measured using the X-ray CT apparatus and the measurement data obtained by scanning the object, that extracts sensitivity variation data which is a sensitivity variation component of a detection element from the air data, and that extracts blank data from which the sensitivity variation component is removed, and a projection data generation unit that removes the sensitivity variation component and noise which are included in the measurement data, based on the sensitivity variation data, and that uses the blank data so as to perform a correction process of the measurement data from which the sensitivity variation component and the noise are removed.

Abstract: A reconstruction image is generated with a small number of updates, with the use of an iterative approximation method. A specified tomographic image of a subject is received, and a process is performed two or more times, where an update process is performed according to the iterative approximation method, using the tomographic image as an initial image and an update image is obtained. Then, an update vector corresponding to a difference between thus generated update images of the update process performed twice is multiplied by predetermined coefficients, so as to generate an estimated update vector. Using this vector, an update image is generated. Then, this update image is used as a new initial image, and a process is repeated where the update process is performed according to the iterative approximation method and an update image is obtained, thereby generating a tomographic image of the subject.

Abstract: In order to provide a technique capable of restoring measured data from projection data with high accuracy and removing system noise included in the measured data, a signal processing device obtains measured data x including signal values of 0 or less by processing an output signal from a data acquisition system, and performs a conversion process on the measured data x by using a predefined function including a logarithmic function so as to generate projection data (logarithmically converted data z), in which the predefined function is a function of which an inverse function is present for values of a predetermined negative number s or more, and the measured data x including signal values of 0 or less within a predetermined range is restored from the projection data by applying the inverse function to the projection data.

Abstract: In order to provide a technique for reducing system noise from an output signal value (measurement data), an X-ray CT apparatus includes an X-ray generation unit that irradiates X-rays to an object, an X-ray detector that detects the X-rays transmitted through the object, a correction processing unit that corrects an output signal from the X-ray detector, and a reconstruction calculating unit that reconstructs an image on the basis of an output from the correction processing unit, in which the X-ray detector includes arranged detection elements, and in which the correction processing unit maintains an average value of output signal values of a plurality of predetermined detection elements centering on a focused detection element among the detection elements, and also reduces a variance of the output signal values of the plurality of predetermined detection elements centering on the focused detection element.

Abstract: In order to provide a data processing device and the like, capable of performing highly accurate reference correction even in a case where an object protrudes in reference channels in most of the measurement views, an image processing device (data processing device) of an X-ray CT apparatus calculates a unit air calibration reference value which is a value per unit tube current of an air calibration reference value which is reference data measured during air calibration, calculates a reference value (estimated reference value) corresponding to an X-ray condition in the main scanning on the basis of an output tube current value in the main scanning and a unit air calibration reference value, and corrects normalized reference data obtained by normalizing a measured reference value in the main scanning with the estimated reference value, to be included in an allowable error range, so as to remove the influence of protrusion.

Abstract: In order to provide a data processing method and the like capable of suppressing high-frequency errors such as moiré using data uniformly by presuming that adjacent pixels and beams overlap and performing calculation in a back projection process or a forward projection process for reconstructing images, the image processing device 122 sets a pixel size wider than a pixel interval, performs the back projection process or the forward projection process for calculating an interpolation value to be assigned to the pixels or the beams using a size-dependent weight (pixel window) according to an overlap amount of the adjacent pixels, sets a beam size wider than a beam interval, and then performs the back projection process or the forward projection process for calculating an interpolation value to be assigned to the pixels or the beams using a size-dependent weight (beam window) according to an overlap amount of the adjacent beams.

Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus includes an extraction unit that acquires air data measured using the X-ray CT apparatus and the measurement data obtained by scanning the object, that extracts sensitivity variation data which is a sensitivity variation component of a detection element from the air data, and that extracts blank data from which the sensitivity variation component is removed, and a projection data generation unit that removes the sensitivity variation component and noise which are included in the measurement data, based on the sensitivity variation data, and that uses the blank data so as to perform a correction process of the measurement data from which the sensitivity variation component and the noise are removed.

Abstract: In an X-ray CT apparatus, a tube current value calculation unit calculates a tube current value of an X-ray tube based on a successive approximation process condition and based on an input scanning condition and/or a reconstruction condition. A scanning control unit performs scanning based on the calculated tube current value of the X-ray tub, and an image reconstruction unit reconstructs a tomographic image of an object, in accordance with the selected successive approximation process condition and the reconstruction condition. The tomographic image is reconstructed from an amount of transmitted X-rays detected by an X-ray detector after being emitted from an X-ray source to the object, in accordance with the calculated tube current value of the X-ray tube, and being transmitted through the object.

Abstract: In order to provide an X-ray CT apparatus and the like capable of obtaining an optimal X-ray dose for a dynamically changing X-ray irradiation region and reliably irradiating the X-ray irradiation region in a case where X-rays are applied with a spreading angle in a body axis direction, an X-ray CT apparatus 1 dynamically changes an X-ray irradiation region 201 for each view angle during scanning, and a system control device 124 changes a position of an analysis line 300 used to calculate an optimal tube current during scanning according to a position of the X-ray irradiation region 201 at each view angle, so as to obtain an optimal irradiation X-ray dose.