Patents by Inventor Masatoshi Hanawa
Masatoshi Hanawa 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).
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Patent number: 8816688Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging condition acquisition unit and an imaging unit. The imaging condition acquisition unit acquires at least one of optimum amplitude and optimum phase of a radio frequency transmission signal so as to reduce a deviation of data in at least one region of interest set in an object. The imaging unit acquires image data by imaging according to an imaging condition including at least one of optimum amplitude and optimum phase.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Kohei Adachi, Masatoshi Hanawa, Kazuya Okamoto
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Patent number: 8111070Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging condition acquisition unit and an imaging unit. The imaging condition acquisition unit acquires at least one of optimum amplitude and optimum phase of a radio frequency transmission signal so as to reduce a deviation of data in at least one region of interest set in an object. The imaging unit acquires image data by imaging according to an imaging condition including at least one of optimum amplitude and optimum phase.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Kohei Adachi, Masatoshi Hanawa, Kazuya Okamoto
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Publication number: 20110298459Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging condition acquisition unit and an imaging unit. The imaging condition acquisition unit acquires at least one of optimum amplitude and optimum phase of a radio frequency transmission signal so as to reduce a deviation of data in at least one region of interest set in an object. The imaging unit acquires image data by imaging according to an imaging condition including at least one of optimum amplitude and optimum phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicants: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kohei ADACHI, Masatoshi HANAWA, Kazuya OKAMOTO
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Patent number: 7741847Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus in which magnetic metal pieces are accommodated in an accommodation section so as to correct uniformity in a main magnetic field, includes an acquisition unit which acquires temperature information related to at least one of a temperature of the magnetic metal pieces accommodated in the accommodation section, a temperature of the accommodation section, and a temperature of a position in the vicinity of the accommodation section, and a temperature adjustment unit which adjusts the temperature of the magnetic metal pieces to a target temperature by preheating the magnetic metal pieces on the basis of the temperature information acquired by the acquisition unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Kazuto Nakabayashi, Masatoshi Hanawa
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Publication number: 20090322330Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging condition acquisition unit and an imaging unit. The imaging condition acquisition unit acquires at least one of an amplitude and a phase of a radio frequency transmission signal so as to reduce a deviation of data in at least one region of interest set in an object. The imaging unit acquires image data by imaging according to an imaging condition including at least the one of the amplitude and the phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Inventors: Kohei Adachi, Masatoshi Hanawa, Kazuya Okamoto
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Patent number: 7511502Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a static magnetic field magnet which generates a static magnetic field, a gradient coil unit which generates a gradient magnetic field for overlapping with the static magnetic field, a shim unit which is disposed between the static magnetic field magnet and the gradient coil unit to control the static magnetic field, and a heat shielding member which is disposed between the gradient coil unit and the shim unit to shield a radiant heat of the gradient coil unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Yoshitomo Sakakura, Masatoshi Hanawa
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Patent number: 7474096Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which applies RF pulses to a subject placed on a top board which is moving in an imaging field in which a static magnetic field and gradient magnetic fields are formed, acquiring magnetic resonance signals emitted from the subject as a result of application of the RF pulses, producing image data based on the acquired magnetic resonance signals, and stopping the generation of a drive signal to move the top board during a magnetic resonance signal acquisition interval.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Masatoshi Hanawa
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Publication number: 20080164876Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a static magnetic field magnet which generates a static magnetic field, a gradient coil unit which generates a gradient magnetic field for overlapping with the static magnetic field, a shim unit which is disposed between the static magnetic field magnet and the gradient coil unit to control the static magnetic field, and a heat shielding member which is disposed between the gradient coil unit and the shim unit to shield a radiant heat of the gradient coil unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: Yoshitomo Sakakura, Masatoshi Hanawa
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Publication number: 20080088311Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus in which magnetic metal pieces are accommodated in an accommodation section so as to correct uniformity in a main magnetic field, includes an acquisition unit which acquires temperature information related to at least one of a temperature of the magnetic metal pieces accommodated in the accommodation section, a temperature of the accommodation section, and a temperature of a position in the vicinity of the accommodation section, and a temperature adjustment unit which adjusts the temperature of the magnetic metal pieces to a target temperature by preheating the magnetic metal pieces on the basis of the temperature information acquired by the acquisition unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Kazuto Nakabayashi, Masatoshi Hanawa
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Publication number: 20070170920Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which applies RF pulses to a subject placed on a top board which is moving in an imaging field in which a static magnetic field and gradient magnetic fields are formed, acquiring magnetic resonance signals emitted from the subject as a result of application of the RF pulses, producing image data based on the acquired magnetic resonance signals, and stopping the generation of a drive signal to move the top board during a magnetic resonance signal acquisition interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2007Publication date: July 26, 2007Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Masatoshi Hanawa
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Patent number: 6567685Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus generates an MR signal from an object by applying a gradient field pulse generated by a gradient field coil and a high-frequency magnetic field pulse generated by a high-frequency coil to the object in a static field, and reconstructs an image on the basis of the MR signal. The gradient field coil is housed in a sealed vessel. The internal air in the sealed vessel is exhausted by the pump to prevent noise. By controlling the operation of the pump using a control circuit, noise in imaging operation can be reduced more effectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Hiromitsu Takamori, Ayumi Katsunuma, Hitoshi Kanazawa, Takeshiro Suzuki, Seiji Nozaki, Masatoshi Hanawa, Yoshio Machida, Masaaki Yamanaka, Masao Yui
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Publication number: 20010010464Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus generates an MR signal from an object by applying a gradient field pulse generated by a gradient field coil and a high-frequency magnetic field pulse generated by a high-frequency coil to the object in a static field, and reconstructs an image on the basis of the MR signal. The gradient field coil is housed in a sealed vessel. The internal air in the sealed vessel is exhausted by the pump to prevent noise. By controlling the operation of the pump using a control circuit, noise in imaging operation can be reduced more effectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2001Publication date: August 2, 2001Inventors: Hiromitsu Takamori, Ayumi Katsunuma, Hitoshi Kanazawa, Takeshiro Suzuki, Seiji Nozaki, Masatoshi Hanawa, Yoshio Machida, Masaaki Yamanaka, Masao Yui
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Patent number: 6091242Abstract: An inversion pulse is applied to the subject in a static magnetic field. An excitation pulse is applied after a delay time depending on the time constant of the longitudinal relaxation of the spins of proton contained in fat molecule from this inversion pulse. As a result, the spins of proton contained in the fat molecule can be suppressed at high precision. On the basis of the MR signal collected after this suppression, the resonance frequency data of the spins of proton contained in water molecule which is not suppressed or the data corresponding to this resonance frequency, or the magnetic field distribution data of the static magnetic field or the data corresponding to this magnetic field distribution can be determined at high precision.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Masatoshi Hanawa
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Patent number: 6023634Abstract: In addition to the known MT (magnetization transfer) effect, an RMT (reverse MT) is newly found, which increases a detected MR signal strength. Both the MT and RMT effects can be explained with mutual interaction, such as phenomena of chemical exchange and/or cross relaxation, acted between a pool of water proton spins and another pool of macromolecule proton spins, for example, within an object. In order to enhance the MT or RMT effect, the frequency bandwidths of RF pulses, such as a 90.degree. RF exciting pulse in a SE or FSE method, an inversion pulse in a FLAIR or fast FLAIR method, and others, are controlled. To enhance the MT effect, the bandwidth is controlled into a wider value (approx. more than 1250 Hz) than the normally (conventionally) used bandwidth, while to obtain the RMT effect, the bandwidth is controlled into a narrower value (approx. less than 1000 Hz) than the normally used bandwidth. Actively controlling the MT or RMT effect permits changed image contrast in MR imaging.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1996Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masatoshi Hanawa, Mitsue Miyazaki, Yoshimori Kassai
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Patent number: 5343149Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging system having an automatic power control function for adjusting the transmission power of an RF pulse so as to set a desired flip angle of a spin, in an automatic power control mode, a plane including only a portion of an object to be examined in an imaging region having a uniform field intensity, e.g., a transaxial plane or a plane slightly inclined from the transaxial plane is excited by a gradient magnetic field Gz in the direction of the body axis of the object as a slice gradient magnetic field regardless of a plane to be imaged. The peak values of MR echo signals are detected while the transmission power of the RF pulse is changed. An RF pulse transmission power at which the maximum peak value appears is detected from these detection values. The transmission power of the RF pulse in imaging, i.e.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1993Date of Patent: August 30, 1994Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Masatoshi Hanawa
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Patent number: 5051699Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a static magnetic field generating section, a gradient magnetic field applying section, an RF pulse applying section, a sequence control section, a receiving section, and an imaging processing section. The sequence control section causes an RF pulse to excite magnetic resonance, causes at least one of the RF pulse and the gradient field to produce an initial magnetic resonance echo, applies a read gradient field to the imaging volume upon reception of the magnetic resonance echo, and inverts the read gradient field at least once to produce at least one magnetic resonance echo in addition to the initial magnetic resonance echo. The receiving section adds and averages data of a plurality of such magnetic resonance echoes or performs an addition or subtraction of the magnetic resonance echoes.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1989Date of Patent: September 24, 1991Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masatoshi Hanawa, Kazuto Nakabayashi
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Patent number: 4950992Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a static field generating section, a gradient field applying section, high-frequency pulse applying section, a sequence control section, a receiving section and an imaging processing section. The sequence control section generates a 180.degree. pulse at a timing at which a center of the 180.degree. pulse appears at time t=TE'/2 when a center of a 90.degree. pulse appears at time t=0 under the condition TE'=TE-N.tau.c (where TE is an echo time with respect to a proton, .tau.c is a period in which phases of spins of the proton and fat match with each other and which is obtained on the basis of a chemical shift of protons of water and the fat, and n is an integer not less than 1), and generates a read gradient field Gr such that its intensity is set to allow an echo peak to appear at time t=TE=TE'+n.tau.c.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1989Date of Patent: August 21, 1990Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuto Nakabayashi, Masatoshi Hanawa
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Patent number: 4931733Abstract: A method and an apparatus for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, using a shim coil which adjusts a static magnetic field to improve the homogeneity of the static magnetic field, capable of determining an appropriate amount of current to flow through the shim coil in accordance with a nuclear magnetic resonance signal due to water, in order to achieve an accurate adjustment of the homogeneity of the static magnetic field. The determination of the amount of current may be made by selecting current parameters for which a half-width of the nuclear magnetic resonance signal spectrum due to water is the smallest. The determination of the amount of current may be made by selecting current parameters for which a peak value of the nuclear magnetic resonance signal spectrum due to water is the largest.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1988Date of Patent: June 5, 1990Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Masatoshi Hanawa
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Patent number: 4887035Abstract: A magnetic resonance spectroscopy system repeatedly performs operations of selectively exciting, using a 90.degree. pulse, first two regions which sandwich a local region therebetween in the direction of one of the X axis and y axis for a slice portion, subsequently erasing transverse magnetization components in the first two regions, selectively exciting, using a 90.degree. pulse, second two regions which sandwich the local region therebetween in the direction of the other of the x axis and y axis, subsequently erasing transverse magnetization components in the second two regions, exciting a region having one local region in the z-axis direction to acquire magnetic resonance data therefor, and exciting a region including another local region in the z-axis direction to acquire magnetic resonance data therefor within a repetition time.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1988Date of Patent: December 12, 1989Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Masatoshi Hanawa
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Patent number: 4806867Abstract: The magnetic resonance imaging system applies a uniform static magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to an object and further applies an excitation rotating magnetic field to cause magnetic resonance phenomena in the object to detect the induced magnetic resonance signals and then to obtain image data by processing the magnetic resonance signals. The system has a power controller for controlling the transmission power in a transmitter for transmitting the excitation rotating field. The system further has a transmission controller for controlling the power controller in response to the magnetic resonance signal which is received by the receiver from the object.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1987Date of Patent: February 21, 1989Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masatoshi Hanawa, Hiroshi Hayakawa