Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit which stores volume data associated with an area including a contrast-enhanced artery as an examination target, a first calculation unit which calculates a plurality of partial atherosclerotic indexes associated with a plurality of portions of the artery on the basis of morphological information associated with the artery which is obtained from the volume data, a second calculation unit which calculates a whole atherosclerotic index associated with the entire artery including the plurality of portions on the basis of the morphological information associated with the artery, and a display unit which displays evaluation information based on the calculated whole atherosclerotic index.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a subject is prompted to take breaths that are different at least in depth, and the subject's motion associated with respiration is captured. A timing when the subject is scanned is controlled according to the captured motion of the subject associated with respiration. A two-dimensional detector formed like a two-dimensional plane detects an X-ray beam having passed through the subject. Data is collected from the two-dimensional detector to acquire volume data on the subject.

Abstract: A CT value of an image within a region of interest is calculated with time. While the calculated CT value does not exceed a predetermined threshold value, a reconstruction mode used when an image is reconstructed from projection data is set to half reconstruction. On the other hand, while the calculated CT value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the reconstruction mode is set to segment reconstruction.

Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus has a setting unit, a generating unit, a calculation unit, and a determination unit. The setting unit sets a required width of a group of X-ray detection elements in a row direction, which is relatively insusceptible to an influence of a cone angle of a cone-beam X-ray. The generating unit generates accumulation data by accumulating first projection data, based on first X-ray detection elements within the required width included in the group, with same channel in the row direction in preference to second projection data based on second X-ray detection elements outside the required width included in the group. The calculation unit obtains a motion amount for each heartbeat phase based on the accumulation data. The determination unit determines a specific heartbeat phase based on the motion amount for the each heartbeat phase.

Abstract: According to a medical image processing apparatus, a data of a region of the blood vessel is removed from respectives of a plurality of sheets of original image data collected by scanning a subject injected with a contrast medium by a medical modality, thereafter, a pixel value of the region of the blood vessel is substituted for by pixel values of a plurality of pixels present at a surrounding of the region, the plurality of sheets of original image data including the substituted region of the blood vessel are subjected to a preprocessing including a noise removing processing and a pixel bundling processing, and circulation dynamic state information of perfusion of a substantial portion is analyzed from the plurality of sheets of original image data subjected to the preprocessing.

Abstract: An X-ray computed tomography (CT) apparatus having an X-ray tube emitting an X-ray, a detector detecting X-rays transmitted through a subject to be examined, and a bed on which said subject to be examined is placed, said X-ray CT apparatus reconstructing the image of the subject to be examined from a transmission data obtained by emitting X-rays to the subject to be examined. The X-ray computed tomography (CT) apparatus further having an input part, a scan controlling part, a detecting part, a memory part, a segmentation part, a biological-signal synchronization reconstructing part, a biological-signal asynchronization reconstructing part, and a combining part.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided for reducing noise from an original image consisting of digital image data. The apparatus has an information calculator, smoothed image producer, weighting-factor calculator, and weighting adder. The information calculator calculates information in relation to a pixel-value change representing a degree that becomes larger with a spatial change in a pixel value averaged each predetermined area on the original image. The smoothed image producer produces a smoothed image by smoothing the original image. The weighting-factor calculator calculates a weighting factor depending on the calculated information in relation to the pixel-value change. The weighting adder mutually performing, using the weighting factor, weighting addition with either the original image or an image modulated from the original image and the produced smoothed image.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a subject is prompted to take breaths that are different at least in depth, and the subject's motion associated with respiration is captured. A timing when the subject is scanned is controlled according to the captured motion of the subject associated with respiration. A two-dimensional detector formed like a two-dimensional plane detects an X-ray beam having passed through the subject. Data is collected from the two-dimensional detector to acquire volume data on the subject.

Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus has a setting unit, a generating unit, a calculation unit, and a determination unit. The setting unit sets a required width of a group of X-ray detection elements in a row direction, which is relatively insusceptible to an influence of a cone angle of a cone-beam X-ray. The generating unit generates accumulation data by accumulating first projection data, based on first X-ray detection elements within the required width included in the group, with same channel in the row direction in preference to second projection data based on second X-ray detection elements outside the required width included in the group. The calculation unit obtains a motion amount for each heartbeat phase based on the accumulation data. The determination unit determines a specific heartbeat phase based on the motion amount for the each heartbeat phase.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit which stores volume data associated with an area including a contrast-enhanced artery as an examination target, a first calculation unit which calculates a plurality of partial atherosclerotic indexes associated with a plurality of portions of the artery on the basis of morphological information associated with the artery which is obtained from the volume data, a second calculation unit which calculates a whole atherosclerotic index associated with the entire artery including the plurality of portions on the basis of the morphological information associated with the artery, and a display unit which displays evaluation information based on the calculated whole atherosclerotic index.

Abstract: A CT value of an image within a region of interest is calculated with time. While the calculated CT value does not exceed a predetermined threshold value, a reconstruction mode used when an image is reconstructed from projection data is set to half reconstruction. On the other hand, while the calculated CT value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the reconstruction mode is set to segment reconstruction.

Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus comprises three X-ray generating units, three groups of detecting elements and a reconstructing unit. The three X-ray generating units are arranged so as to make an angle formed by a first X-ray exposure direction and a second X-ray exposure direction on a rotational plane thereof be a same angle as that formed by the second X-ray exposure direction and a third X-ray exposure direction on the rotational plane, the same angle being smaller than 120 degree. The three groups of detecting elements are arranged opposite to the three X-ray generating units respectively so as to make a field of view formed in a center wider than two side fields of view. The reconstructing unit is configured to reconstruct an image using detection data detected by at least desired one of the three groups of the detecting elements.

Abstract: The X-ray CT apparatus that performs a scan after a pre-scan, comprising a reconstruction part reconstructing the pre-scan image of said subject to be examined from transmission data detected by said detector during said pre-scan, and also reconstructing the scan image of said subject to be examined from the transmission data detected by said detector during said scan; and a scan controlling part initiating a scan by directly changing the helical pitch of said bed from the stopped position for said pre-scan to the position toward an ending edge of the reconstruction area of the image. The scan controlling part initiates the scan at a first helical pitch by which X-rays for a predetermined number of views can be emitted at a starting edge of the reconstruction area of the image, and, after X-rays for the predetermined number of views is emitted, the scan at a second helical pitch continues.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided for reducing noise from an original image consisting of digital image data. The apparatus has an information calculator, smoothed image producer, weighting-factor calculator, and weighting adder. The information calculator calculates information in relation to a pixel-value change representing a degree that becomes larger with a spatial change in a pixel value averaged each predetermined area on the original image. The smoothed image producer produces a smoothed image by smoothing the original image. The weighting-factor calculator calculates a weighting factor depending on the calculated information in relation to the pixel-value change. The weighting adder mutually performing, using the weighting factor, weighting addition with either the original image or an image modulated from the original image and the produced smoothed image.

Abstract: An X-ray computed tomographic apparatus includes a gantry, a reconstructing portion, and a tube current value determining portion. The gantry acquires projection data of an arbitrary range in a body axial direction by continuously moving a tabletop on which a subject is laid down and by continuously rotating an X-ray tube about the subject. The reconstructing portion reconstructs image data from the acquired projection data according to reconstruction processing selected by an operator from plural types of reconstruction processing. The tube current value determining portion determines plural tube current values respectively corresponding to discrete, plural positions within the range, on the basis of the selected type of reconstruction processing and an image quality level specified or selected by the operator.

Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus, as one example, includes at least one X-ray irradiation source configured to irradiate an X-ray to a volume of interest, at least one X-ray detector including a plurality of detection element segments configured to detect the X-ray penetrated through the volume of interest, at least one collimator configured to create an opening that is movable in at least one of a slice direction and a channel direction, at least one image processing part configured to extract a portion of the volume data, a controller configured to set the opening of the at least one collimator to a second opening size according to a cylinder-like second scanning range that is set to limit the volume of interest and configured to perform a second scan, and at least one reconstruction part configured to reconstruct image data based on data collected by the second scan.

Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus comprises three X-ray generating units, three groups of detecting elements and a reconstructing unit. The three X-ray generating units are arranged so as to make an angle formed by a first X-ray exposure direction and a second X-ray exposure direction on a rotational plane thereof be a same angle as that formed by the second X-ray exposure direction and a third X-ray exposure direction on the rotational plane, the same angle being smaller than 120 degree. The three groups of detecting elements are arranged opposite to the three X-ray generating units respectively so as to make a field of view formed in a center wider than two side fields of view. The reconstructing unit is configured to reconstruct an image using detection data detected by at least desired one of the three groups of the detecting elements.

Abstract: An X-ray computed tomography apparatus of this invention includes a first data detecting system which includes a first X-ray tube and a first X-ray detector and a second data detecting system which includes a second X-ray tube and a second X-ray detector. A reconstructing unit reconstructs image data on the basis of the data detected by at least one of the first and second data detecting systems. A monitoring unit monitors the first data detecting system. In a period during which the first data detecting system is normal, data acquisition is performed by both the first and second data detecting systems. In a period during which the first data detecting system is faulty, data acquisition is performed by the second data detecting system alone.

Abstract: A radiation detector of this invention includes a scintillator for converting an X-ray incident from a surface side into light, at least one photodiode chip having a plurality of photodiodes for converting the converted light into electrical signals, at least one switching chip having a plurality of switching elements for reading out a plurality of signals from the plurality of photodiodes, and at least one data acquisition chip having a plurality of data acquisition systems for amplifying the plurality of readout signals and converting the signals into digital signals. The photodiode chip, the switching chip, and the data acquisition chip are commonly mounted on a rigid multilayer wiring board.

Abstract: According to a medical image processing apparatus, a data of a region of the blood vessel is removed from respectives of a plurality of sheets of original image data collected by scanning a subject injected with a contrast medium by a medical modality, thereafter, a pixel value of the region of the blood vessel is substituted for by pixel values of a plurality of pixels present at a surrounding of the region, the plurality of sheets of original image data including the substituted region of the blood vessel are subjected to a preprocessing including a noise removing processing and a pixel bundling processing, and circulation dynamic state information of perfusion of a substantial portion is analyzed from the plurality of sheets of original image data subjected to the preprocessing.