Abstract: The armrest of the present invention includes a first horizontal plate provided horizontally with a tabletop, a second horizontal plate jointed to the first horizontal plate by way of a hinge, this second horizontal plate forming a continuous horizontal surface along with the first horizontal plate when the hinge is opened, and the second horizontal plate being folded on the first horizontal plate so that a surface of the second horizontal plate meets a surface of the first horizontal plate when the hinge is closed, and a vertical plate provided vertically to the rear surface of the second horizontal plate. When the person sets a position in which he/she holds both arms down on the sides of the body, the hinge is opened, thus forming one horizontal plane, on which both arms can be laid down. When the person sets a position in which he/she folds both arms across the head, the hinge is closed, and the surface of the second horizontal plate is folded on the surface of the first horizontal plate.

Abstract: A frame image signal which is output cyclically is converted to a digital signal and input to a first multiplier in a digital filter. The first multiplier multiplies a digital image signal Y.sub.i of each frame by (1-a), and supplies the product (1-a).multidot.Y.sub.i to a first input terminal of an adder. The coefficient a is a negative coefficient whose absolute value is not more than 1, so that (1-a) becomes a positive coefficient of not less than 1. An output of the adder serves as an output Y.sub.i ' of the digital filter from which the residual image has been erased, and is supplied to a subsequent unit, e.g., a display unit (not shown) connected to the output of the adder. The output Y.sub.i ' of the adder is also supplied to a frame memory and is delayed by one frame period. Therefore, an output Y.sub.i-1 ' of the frame memory is a one-frame preceding image output. The signal Y.sub.i-1 ' is input to a second multiplier and is multiplied by the coefficient a.

Abstract: A method for analyzing ventricular function comprises the steps for generating ED contour image data representing the contour of the heart in an end diastole (ED) phase and an ES contour image data representing the contour of the heart in an end systole (ES) phase, generating a graph of an average cardiac function of the normal heart, and generating a standard heart ES contour (or ED contour) image from the ED contour image or the S contour image of the subject heart, to be examined, by the graph of average cardiac function of the normal heart. The ED contour image data or ES contour image data of the heart of a subject to be examined is superimposed on the standard heart ES contour or the ED contour image data, to analyze the ventricular function of the subject from a state of superimposition between the contour image data of the subject's heart and the standard heart contour image data.

Abstract: A digital mask image is obtained by emitting radiation onto a subject before a contrast medium is injected in a blood vessel, and digital mask image data corresponding to the mask image is stored in a first image memory. A digital contrast image is obtained by emitting radiation to the subject after the contrast medium is injected in the blood vessel, and contrast image data corresponding to the contrast image is stored in a second image memory. The mask image data is read out from the first image memory and the contrast image data is read out from the second image memory. Then, the mask image data is subtracted from the contrast image data by a subtraction circuit, thus obtaining angiographical image data. Edges of the blood vessel are detected from the angiographical image data by an edge detecting circuit.

Abstract: A method of analyzing regional ventricular function utilizing centerline method capable of producing sufficiently natural results in the vicinity of the apex. The method includes the step of drawing a line between the end-diastolic and end-systolic contours, which is converting to an intersection of the end-systolic contour and a major axis joining the apex of the end-diastolic contour and a midpoint of an aortic valve portion of the end-diastolic contour, whenever a line to be drawn between the end-diastolic and end-systolic contour is going to intersect with the major axis. In the method, all the lines to be drawn between the end-diastolic and end-systolic contours are drawn sequentially in a first direction from one end of an aortic valve portion toward an apex for one half of the end-diastolic contour, and in a second direction from another end of the aortic valve portion toward the apex, which is opposite to the first direction, for other half of the end-diastolic contour.