Patents by Inventor Nobuhiko Kashiwagi

Nobuhiko Kashiwagi 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).

  • Patent number: 8913713
    Abstract: Radiographic images for different imaging directions taken by applying radiation to a subject from the different imaging directions are obtained, and a plurality of first tomographic images having a first slice thickness are generated based on the obtained plurality of radiographic images and a plurality of second tomographic images having a second slice thickness that is greater than the first slice thickness are generated based on the radiographic images. Then, MinIP processing is applied to the first tomographic images to generate a MinIP image, and MIP processing is applied to the second tomographic images to generate a MIP image. Then, combining processing is performed using the MinIP image and the MIP image to generate a composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Masumoto, Masahiko Yamada, Hiroaki Yasuda, Yasuko Yahiro, Nobuhiko Kashiwagi, Ayako Muramoto, Haruyasu Nakatsugawa
  • Patent number: 8903039
    Abstract: Radiographic images for different imaging directions taken by applying radiation to a subject from the different imaging directions are obtained, and a plurality of tomographic images of the subject are generated based on the obtained plurality of radiographic images. Then, compression processing in the direction perpendicular to slice planes of the generated tomographic images is applied to the tomographic images to generate compressed tomographic images, wherein a range of the imaging directions is obtained, and a compression rate of the compression processing is set based on the obtained range of the imaging directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Masumoto, Masahiko Yamada, Hiroaki Yasuda, Yasuko Yahiro, Nobuhiko Kashiwagi, Ayako Muramoto, Haruyasu Nakatsugawa
  • Publication number: 20140093029
    Abstract: Radiographic images for different imaging directions taken by applying radiation to a subject from the different imaging directions are obtained, and a plurality of first tomographic images having a first slice thickness are generated based on the obtained plurality of radiographic images and a plurality of second tomographic images having a second slice thickness that is greater than the first slice thickness are generated based on the radiographic images. Then, MinIP processing is applied to the first tomographic images to generate a MinIP image, and MIP processing is applied to the second tomographic images to generate a MIP image. Then, combining processing is performed using the MinIP image and the MIP image to generate a composite image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Jun MASUMOTO, Masahiko YAMADA, Hiroaki YASUDA, Yasuko YAHIRO, Nobuhiko KASHIWAGI, Ayako MURAMOTO, Haruyasu NAKATSUGAWA
  • Publication number: 20140093036
    Abstract: Radiographic images for different imaging directions taken by applying radiation to a subject from the different imaging directions are obtained, and a plurality of tomographic images of the subject are generated based on the obtained plurality of radiographic images. Then, compression processing in the direction perpendicular to slice planes of the generated tomographic images is applied to the tomographic images to generate compressed tomographic images, wherein a range of the imaging directions is obtained, and a compression rate of the compression processing is set based on the obtained range of the imaging directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Jun MASUMOTO, Masahiko YAMADA, Hiroaki YASUDA, Yasuko YAHIRO, Nobuhiko KASHIWAGI, Ayako MURAMOTO, Haruyasu NAKATSUGAWA
  • Patent number: 8581932
    Abstract: An image display system including: an image acquisition section that acquires a specific number of images of an imaging subject by imaging with an imaging section from different respective imaging positions; a detection section that detects regions of attention expressing specific loci of attention in each of the specific number of images acquired by the image acquisition section; and a selection section that selects, from combinations of the images, a combination of images for display as images on a display section, the combination of images having a minimum number of images having all of the loci of attention expressed by the regions of attention detected by the detection section in the specific number of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi, Ayako Muramoto
  • Publication number: 20110242092
    Abstract: An image display system including: an image acquisition section that acquires a specific number of images of an imaging subject by imaging with an imaging section from different respective imaging positions; a detection section that detects regions of attention expressing specific loci of attention in each of the specific number of images acquired by the image acquisition section; and a selection section that selects, from combinations of the images, a combination of images for display as images on a display section, the combination of images having a minimum number of images having all of the loci of attention expressed by the regions of attention detected by the detection section in the specific number of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi, Ayako Muramoto
  • Patent number: 7878710
    Abstract: A radiation image photographing apparatus is formed with a photographing unit that includes a radiation emission means for emitting radiation, a radiation image detection means for recording a radiation image, a region of interest indication means for indicating a mark on a site of a subject corresponding to the region of interest specified in the radiation image, and the like; a computer having an input means, such as a mouse; and a monitor, in which a radiation image obtained by photographing is displayed on the monitor to have the user to specify a region of interest through the input means, and when coordinate information of the region of interest in the image is received from the computer, photographing unit, based on this, controls the region of interest indication means to automatically indicate a mark on a site of the subject corresponding to the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi, Tomonari Sendai
  • Patent number: 7746975
    Abstract: The breast's radiation image taking apparatus and method set an imaging condition in association with a first region on a distal end side which is an imaging region spaced from a chest wall of a subject, take a first radiation image of the breast in the first region and take a second radiation image of the breast in a second region on a proximal end side closer to the chest wall than the first region under the same imaging condition as in the first region. The apparatus includes a radiation source, a breast support plane on which the breast is to be placed, a radiation-receiving plane for acquiring a radiation image of the breast, an imaging position switching device by which relative positions of the both planes are changed, an imaging condition setting device for setting an imaging condition and an imaging control device controls so that the first and second radiation images are taken in two positions on both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 7734013
    Abstract: A mammographic system as a radiation image capturing apparatus includes a radiation source for emitting a radiation, AEC sensors for detecting the radiation emitted from the radiation source and acquiring radiation image information for exposure control, a mammary gland position identifier for selecting at least one of the AEC sensors for outputting given radiation dose information based on the radiation dose information acquired by the AEC sensors thereby to identify a mammary gland position as a region of interest of a subject, a weighting coefficient allocator for multiplying output signals from the AEC sensors before the mammary gland position is identified by the mammary gland position identifier, by respective weighting coefficients depending on the installed positions of the AEC sensors, and a radiation source controller for controlling the radiation dose applied from the radiation source to the identified mammary gland position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi, Hiroki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7732775
    Abstract: The radiation imaging apparatus includes a radiation source for irradiating an object, a radiation image detector having a radiation-receiving plane that receives radiation from the radiation source through the object, for detecting a radiation image of the object, a shape information acquiring device for acquiring shape information that represents a shape of the object and a shape information display device that displays the shape information such that it reproduces a position of the object as occurs when the shape information is acquired. The radiation imaging method takes a first radiation image of a first object and generates shape information which represents the shape of the first object, inverts the shape information and displays inverted shape information such that it reproduces a position of the first object and takes a second radiation image of a second object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 7639778
    Abstract: A mammographic apparatus is set to take a medio-lateral oblique view (MLO) of a breast with an arm being tilted. After having positioned the breast on an image capturing base, the radiological technician moves a breast compression plate, which is tilted with respect to the image capturing base, toward the image capturing base. When the breast compression plate abuts against the breast and the breast is braced from below by the image capturing base, the radiological technician removes a hand from between the image capturing base and the breast compression plate, and then further moves the breast compression plate toward the image capturing base. A compression plate support mechanism turns the breast compression plate to make it substantial parallel to the image capturing base, thereby positioning the breast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 7639779
    Abstract: An irradiation dose calculator calculates a pre-exposure-mode-required irradiation dose using the thickness of a breast which measured by a thickness measuring unit, as a parameter, and the irradiation time of a pre-exposure mode is controlled to apply a radiation to the breast in the pre-exposure mode. According to the dose of the radiation detected by a dose detecting sensor in the pre-exposure mode, the irradiation dose calculator calculates a main-exposure-mode-required irradiation dose, and the irradiation time of a main exposure mode is controlled to apply the radiation to the breast in the main exposure mode, thereby capturing a radiation image of the breast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi, Hajime Nakata
  • Publication number: 20090225936
    Abstract: A radiation image photographing apparatus is formed with a photographing unit that includes a radiation emission means for emitting radiation, a radiation image detection means for recording a radiation image, a region of interest indication means for indicating a mark on a site of a subject corresponding to the region of interest specified in the radiation image, and the like; a computer having an input means, such as a mouse; and a monitor, in which a radiation image obtained by photographing is displayed on the monitor to have the user to specify a region of interest through the input means, and when coordinate information of the region of interest in the image is received from the computer, photographing unit, based on this, controls the region of interest indication means to automatically indicate a mark on a site of the subject corresponding to the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiko KASHIWAGI, Tomonari SENDAI
  • Patent number: 7566172
    Abstract: There is provided a radiation image taking apparatus having: a radiation source for irradiating an object; a radiation image detector; a focusing grid provided between the radiation source and the radiation image detector and consisting of radiation-transparent and opaque areas that alternate in a direction parallel to the radiation-receiving plane of the radiation image detector; a moving means that moves the radiation source in such a direction that the perpendicular from the radiation source to the focusing grid crosses the borderline between a radiation-transparent area in the focusing grid and the adjacent radiation-opaque area; and an inclining means that inclines the focusing grid in such a way that the focus of the focusing grid is brought into agreement with the radiation source that has been moved by the moving means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi
  • Publication number: 20090022273
    Abstract: An irradiation dose calculator calculates a pre-exposure-mode-required irradiation dose using the thickness of a breast which measured by a thickness measuring unit, as a parameter, and the irradiation time of a pre-exposure mode is controlled to apply a radiation to the breast in the pre-exposure mode. According to the dose of the radiation detected by a dose detecting sensor in the pre-exposure mode, the irradiation dose calculator calculates a main-exposure-mode-required irradiation dose, and the irradiation time of a main exposure mode is controlled to apply the radiation to the breast in the main exposure mode, thereby capturing a radiation image of the breast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiko KASHIWAGI, Hajime Nakata
  • Publication number: 20080247509
    Abstract: (Problem) To obtain radiation images providing a tomogram which is higher in quality. (Means for Solving the Problem) Thickness of the object is detected and the amount of radiation projected in the projecting directions so that the amount of radiation entering the radiation image detector is uniform according to the projecting direction and the thickness of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko KASHIWAGI
  • Publication number: 20080240346
    Abstract: A mammographic system as a radiation image capturing apparatus includes a radiation source for emitting a radiation, AEC sensors for detecting the radiation emitted from the radiation source and acquiring radiation image information for exposure control, a mammary gland position identifier for selecting at least one of the AEC sensors for outputting given radiation dose information based on the radiation dose information acquired by the AEC sensors thereby to identify a mammary gland position as a region of interest of a subject, a weighting coefficient allocator for multiplying output signals from the AEC sensors before the mammary gland position is identified by the mammary gland position identifier, by respective weighting coefficients depending on the installed positions of the AEC sensors, and a radiation source controller for controlling the radiation dose applied from the radiation source to the identified mammary gland position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi, Hiroki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20080087830
    Abstract: The radiation imaging apparatus includes a radiation source for irradiating an object, a radiation image detector having a radiation-receiving plane that receives radiation from the radiation source through the object, for detecting a radiation image of the object, a shape information acquiring device for acquiring shape information that represents a shape of the object and a shape information display device that displays the shape information such that it reproduces a position of the object as occurs when the shape information is acquired. The radiation imaging method takes a first radiation image of a first object and generates shape information which represents the shape of the first object, inverts the shape information and displays inverted shape information such that it reproduces a position of the first object and takes a second radiation image of a second object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko KASHIWAGI
  • Publication number: 20080080674
    Abstract: There is provided a radiation image taking apparatus having: a radiation source for irradiating an object; a radiation image detector; a focusing grid provided between the radiation source and the radiation image detector and consisting of radiation-transparent and opaque areas that alternate in a direction parallel to the radiation-receiving plane of the radiation image detector; a moving means that moves the radiation source in such a direction that the perpendicular from the radiation source to the focusing grid crosses the borderline between a radiation-transparent area in the focusing grid and the adjacent radiation-opaque area; and an inclining means that inclines the focusing grid in such a way that the focus of the focusing grid is brought into agreement with the radiation source that has been moved by the moving means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi
  • Publication number: 20080080668
    Abstract: A mammographic apparatus is set to take a medio-lateral oblique view (MLO) of a breast with an arm being tilted. After having positioned the breast on an image capturing base, the radiological technician moves a breast compression plate, which is tilted with respect to the image capturing base, toward the image capturing base. When the breast compression plate abuts against the breast and the breast is braced from below by the image capturing base, the radiological technician removes a hand from between the image capturing base and the breast compression plate, and then further moves the breast compression plate toward the image capturing base. A compression plate support mechanism turns the breast compression plate to make it substantial parallel to the image capturing base, thereby positioning the breast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko KASHIWAGI