Patents by Inventor Mitsuhiro Bekku

Mitsuhiro Bekku 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: 20240074671
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry determines, with respect to each of the pixels included in a magnetic resonance image, a shift amount from the position of the pixel to a position where ringing artifacts will be reduced and performs a ringing correction to correct the ringing artifacts occurring in the magnetic resonance image on the basis of the determined shift amounts. The processing circuitry estimates, with respect to each of the pixels, a local amplitude of ringing artifacts, and performs the ringing correction on the magnetic resonance image while determining the shift amount of each of the pixels so as to be approximately continuous with the shift amounts of adjacently positioned pixels, sequentially in descending order starting with pixels having a higher local amplitude on the basis of the estimated local amplitudes of ringing artifacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew NIELSEN, Mitsuhiro BEKKU
  • Publication number: 20240078636
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry obtains, on the basis of a magnetic resonance image, a plurality of shift images resulting from shifting the position of the pixel sampling grid of the magnetic resonance image by a plurality of mutually-different shift amounts. The processing circuitry generates a plurality of ringing-corrected images, by determining, with respect to each of the pixels included in each of the plurality of shift images, a shift amount from the position of the pixel to a position where ringing artifacts will be reduced and further performing a ringing correction to correct the ringing artifacts occurring in the shift images on the basis of the determined shift amounts. The processing circuitry combines, while interleaving, pixels included in each of the plurality of ringing-corrected images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew NIELSEN, Mitsuhiro BEKKU
  • Publication number: 20230397835
    Abstract: A MRI apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry obtains MR data acquired by implementing an IR method under a condition where a phase difference in a complex signal related to observed elements is equal to ?, due to a difference in longitudinal magnetization relaxation time between the observed elements; generates phase data on the basis of the MR data; multiplies a phase angle in the phase data by 2n; unfolds the phase of phase data having the phase angle multiplied by 2n; multiplies the phase angle in the unfolded phase data by 1/(2n); generates a phase correction map used for correcting a phase with respect to the complex signal, by applying a complex conjugate to phase data having the phase angle multiplied by 1/(2n); and performs a phase correction on the MR data by using the phase correction map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro TAMURA, Mitsuhiro BEKKU
  • Patent number: 11723551
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a processing circuitry. Regarding the k-space data obtained as a result of performing multi-shot imaging that includes a plurality of shots, the processing circuitry obtains a correction coefficient, based on first-type magnetic resonance images generated using the k-space data, the correction coefficient correcting phase shifting occurring in read out direction among the plurality of shots. Then, the processing circuitry corrects the k-space data based on the correction coefficients. Moreover, the processing circuitry generates a second-type magnetic resonance image using the corrected k-space data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shohei Hamanaga, Mitsuhiro Bekku
  • Patent number: 11693076
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry obtains a first g factor generated by using first magnetic resonance data acquired through a first parallel imaging process performed by using a plurality of reception coils and a second g factor generated by using second magnetic resonance data related to a second parallel imaging process performed by using the plurality of reception coils. The second parallel imaging process is different from the first parallel imaging process. The processing circuitry adjusts the first g factor so as to reduce a difference between the first g factor and the second g factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Bekku
  • Patent number: 11650281
    Abstract: An excitation region setting method according to an embodiment includes: receiving a designation of a first region from a user, the first region being designated in a distortion-corrected image that is a magnetic resonance image in which an effect of a distortion of a magnetic field has been corrected; calculating an actual excitation region where a subject is to be excited, based on the designated first region and the effect of the distortion of the magnetic field; and correcting imaging conditions including at least one of an orientation of a slice plane that defines the actual excitation region, or a frequency of a high-frequency magnetic field applied to the subject, in such a manner that the calculated actual excitation region becomes closer to an ideal excitation region represented as the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Hoshiyama, Mitsuhiro Bekku, Kensuke Shinoda
  • Patent number: 11327134
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes: a scanner for acquiring MR signals from an imaging region in which substances having different magnetic resonance frequencies are included; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to: calculate phase correction data, which includes information on phase rotation amount due to non-uniformity of a static magnetic field, from MR signals; generate an image by using the phase correction data and the MR signals such that a signal from at least one of the substances in the imaging region is suppressed in the image; and perform decimation processing on first phase correction data to generate second phase correction data, based on information related to a component ratio of the plurality of substances in the imaging region and a plurality of MR signals, wherein resolution of the second phase correction data is lower than the first phase correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Bekku
  • Publication number: 20220133169
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a processing circuitry. Regarding the k-space data obtained as a result of performing multi-shot imaging that includes a plurality of shots, the processing circuitry obtains a correction coefficient, based on first-type magnetic resonance images generated using the k-space data, the correction coefficient correcting phase shifting occurring in read out direction among the plurality of shots. Then, the processing circuitry corrects the k-space data based on the correction coefficients. Moreover, the processing circuitry generates a second-type magnetic resonance image using the corrected k-space data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shohei HAMANAGA, Mitsuhiro BEKKU
  • Publication number: 20220120835
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry obtains a first g factor generated by using first magnetic resonance data acquired through a first parallel imaging process performed by using a plurality of reception coils and a second g factor generated by using second magnetic resonance data related to a second parallel imaging process performed by using the plurality of reception coils. The second parallel imaging process is different from the first parallel imaging process. The processing circuitry adjusts the first g factor so as to reduce a difference between the first g factor and the second g factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro BEKKU
  • Patent number: 11243286
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes processing circuitry configured to: calculate phase correction data, which includes information on phase rotation amount due to non-uniformity of a static magnetic field, from MR signals; generate an image by using the phase correction data and the MR signals such that a signal from at least one of substances having different magnetic resonance frequencies in an imaging region of an object is suppressed in the image; generate first phase correction data composed of phase data that correspond to phase rotation amount selected from choices of phase rotation amount; calculate discontinuity of the first phase correction data; and generate second phase correction data by substituting at least part of the first phase correction data with non-selected phase data, which corresponds to phase rotation amount being not selected among the choices of phase rotation amount, depending on the discontinuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Bekku
  • Publication number: 20210055365
    Abstract: An excitation region setting method according to an embodiment includes: receiving a designation of a first region from a user, the first region being designated in a distortion-corrected image that is a magnetic resonance image in which an effect of a distortion of a magnetic field has been corrected; calculating an actual excitation region where a subject is to be excited, based on the designated first region and the effect of the distortion of the magnetic field; and correcting imaging conditions including at least one of an orientation of a slice plane that defines the actual excitation region, or a frequency of a high-frequency magnetic field applied to the subject, in such a manner that the calculated actual excitation region becomes closer to an ideal excitation region represented as the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka HOSHIYAMA, Mitsuhiro Bekku, Kensuke Shinoda
  • Publication number: 20200309887
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes processing circuitry configured to: calculate phase correction data, which includes information on phase rotation amount due to non-uniformity of a static magnetic field, from MR signals; generate an image by using the phase correction data and the MR signals such that a signal from at least one of substances having different magnetic resonance frequencies in an imaging region of an object is suppressed in the image; generate first phase correction data composed of phase data that correspond to phase rotation amount selected from choices of phase rotation amount; calculate discontinuity of the first phase correction data; and generate second phase correction data by substituting at least part of the first phase correction data with non-selected phase data, which corresponds to phase rotation amount being not selected among the choices of phase rotation amount, depending on the discontinuity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATON
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro BEKKU
  • Publication number: 20200309884
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes: a scanner for acquiring MR signals from an imaging region in which substances having different magnetic resonance frequencies are included; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to: calculate phase correction data, which includes information on phase rotation amount due to non-uniformity of a static magnetic field, from MR signals; generate an image by using the phase correction data and the MR signals such that a signal from at least one of the substances in the imaging region is suppressed in the image; and perform decimation processing on first phase correction data to generate second phase correction data, based on information related to a component ratio of the plurality of substances in the imaging region and a plurality of MR signals, wherein resolution of the second phase correction data is lower than the first phase correction data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro BEKKU
  • Patent number: 10613167
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging method and system, the method comprising performing the following steps at least once: a composition step: performing image composition processing on raw images received by a receiving coil that is pre-determined as an artifact coil and a receiving coil that is pre-determined as a non-artifact coil to obtain a composite image; and a correction step: obtaining a product of the above composite image and space sensitivity of the above artifact coil to replace the raw image received by the above artifact coil, and performing the above composition step again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yongchuan Lai, Weiwei Zhang, Tongzhou Wang, Hongbin Wang, Yoshihiro Tomoda, Mitsuhiro Bekku, Shaorong Chang, Graeme Colin McKinnon
  • Patent number: 10156617
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for decoupling between a body coil and a surface coil. The method comprising a first acquiring step of acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) signals by concurrent reception by a body coil and a surface coil in a plurality of views; a second acquiring step of acquiring MR signals by independent reception by the body coil in some of the plurality of views; an identifying step of identifying a correspondence between the concurrently-received MR signal for the body coil, the concurrently-received MR signals for the surface coil, and the independently-received MR signal for the body coil based on the concurrently-received MR signals in the some views and the independently-received MR signals for the body coil; and a calculation step of determining the independently-received MR signals for the body coil in others of the plurality of views based on the correspondence and using the concurrently-received MR signals for the body coil and surface coil in the other views.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Bekku
  • Publication number: 20180059195
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging method and system, the method comprising performing the following steps at least once: a composition step: performing image composition processing on raw images received by a receiving coil that is pre-determined as an artifact coil and a receiving coil that is pre-determined as a non-artifact coil to obtain a composite image; and a correction step: obtaining a product of the above composite image and space sensitivity of the above artifact coil to replace the raw image received by the above artifact coil, and performing the above composition step again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Yongchuan LAI, Weiwei ZHANG, Tongzhou WANG, Hongbin WANG, Yoshihiro TOMODA, Mitsuhiro BEKKU, Shaorong CHANG, Graeme Colin McKINNON
  • Patent number: 9759786
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus configured to select a coil mode that includes a combination of coil elements to be used when a subject is scanned from within a plurality of coil elements and configured to execute a predetermined scan for acquiring data on the subject using the selected coil mode is provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus includes a coil device having n coil modes, a selecting unit configured to select, from within the n coil modes, a candidate for the selected coil mode, a scanning unit configured to execute a first scan for acquiring the data on the subject using the candidate, and a sensitivity map preparing unit configured to prepare a sensitivity map of the candidate based on data obtained by the first scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yusuke Asaba, Ken Arai, Janeiro Aguilar, Mitsuhiro Bekku, Miho Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20170212198
    Abstract: For the purpose of effectively suppressing shading generated in an image due to B1 inhomogeneity, there are performed an acquiring step of acquiring magnetic resonance signals simultaneously received at a body coil and a surface coil; a filtering step of applying image-based filtering for suppressing shading due to B1 inhomogeneity to a first image according to received signals from the body coil; a calculating step of calculating a sensitivity of the surface coil based on the image-based-filtered first image and a second image according to received signals from the surface coil; and a correcting step of correcting sensitivity unevenness in the second image using the sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro BEKKU, Yuko SUWA, Munetsugu KOHARA, Masanori OZAKI
  • Publication number: 20170139021
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for decoupling between a body coil and a surface coil. The method comprising a first acquiring step of acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) signals by concurrent reception by a body coil and a surface coil in a plurality of views; a second acquiring step of acquiring MR signals by independent reception by the body coil in some of the plurality of views; an identifying step of identifying a correspondence between the concurrently-received MR signal for the body coil, the concurrently-received MR signals for the surface coil, and the independently-received MR signal for the body coil based on the concurrently-received MR signals in the some views and the independently-received MR signals for the body coil; and a calculation step of determining the independently-received MR signals for the body coil in others of the plurality of views based on the correspondence and using the concurrently-received MR signals for the body coil and surface coil in the other views.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: MITSUHIRO BEKKU
  • Publication number: 20140253123
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus configured to select a coil mode that includes a combination of coil elements to be used when a subject is scanned from within a plurality of coil elements and configured to execute a predetermined scan for acquiring data on the subject using the selected coil mode is provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus includes a coil device having n coil modes, a selecting unit configured to select, from within the n coil modes, a candidate for the selected coil mode, a scanning unit configured to execute a first scan for acquiring the data on the subject using the candidate, and a sensitivity map preparing unit configured to prepare a sensitivity map of the candidate based on data obtained by the first scan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Yusuke Asaba, Ken Arai, Janeiro Aguilar, Mitsuhiro Bekku, Miho Nagasawa