Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus is provided with an X-ray tube current modulation pattern calculation means that calculates an X-ray tube current modulation pattern based on a 3-dimensional model of an object calculated based on a scanogram image of the object, start-up shape acquisition means that acquires a start-up shape of CT values of a predetermined region of the object or CT value time differences after injecting contrast agent into the object, time contrast curve prediction means that predicts a time contrast curve indicative of a time sequential change of contrast in a diagnostic portion of the object at each slice position at a scan time based on the acquired start-up shape of the CT values or CT value time differences, object 3-dimensional model modification means that modifies a 3-dimensional model of the object based on the predicted time contrast curve, and X-ray tube electric current modulation pattern modification means that modifies the X-ray tube electric current modulation pattern based on the modifi

Abstract: There are provided a pre-treatment technique for a glycated hemoglobin-containing sample, which is a simple and convenient treatment, is free from problems in storage stability and environmental aspects, and is capable of exposing an epitope sufficiently in a short time; and an method for an immunological assay of glycated hemoglobin using this technique. A method for pre-treating a glycated hemoglobin-containing sample for an immunological assay of glycated hemoglobin, the method includes treating a glycated hemoglobin-containing sample with a pre-treatment solution containing (A) guanidine or a salt thereof and (B) a nonionic surfactant and/or a nitrite.

Abstract: Provided is a general-purpose technique capable of measuring the HbA1c content, which is comparable to the IFCC reference method. An antibody which reacts with a peptide or a protein having an amino acid sequence of VHLTPE (SEQ ID NO: 1) at the N-terminus in which the N-terminal valine is not modified, but does not react with a peptide or a protein in which the N-terminal valine of the relevant polypeptide or protein is modified.

Abstract: A method includes a periodic motion data input step S208 of receiving input of periodic motion data indicating changes of the periodic motion with time in an object to be examined who is a target of image data collection, a step S214 of estimating fluctuations in the time resolution of the image data with time based on the periodic motion data, designating an image collection range in the object, and adjusting the collection position of the image data such that the image data is collected in the image collection range at a suitable time of image data collection, the estimated time resolution being set in a predetermined suitable range, and an image data collection position control step S216 of relatively moving at least a part of the image data collection range and the collection position of the image data such that the part of the range and the position are superimposed on each other within a time when the image data of the image data collection range has a time resolution within the desired range based on t

Abstract: Kits and methods for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample. Such methods accurately evaluate the relationship between a disease and adiponectin through selective assay of adiponectin multimers and provide information that cannot be obtained through measurement of the total amount of adiponectin alone. A method for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample comprising distinguishing target adiponectin multimer from the other adiponectin multimers by using a protease and/or an antibody.

Abstract: There are provided a function image display method and device capable of performing analysis of biological function information by acquiring from a single image, information obtained from a tomogram and information obtained from a plurality of function images without need of observing the plurality of function images and the tomogram by successively moving the eye line, and easily making judgment about the danger degree of the biological function abnormality. A plurality of function images each displayed by a unique and arbitrary gradation color scale are combined with an arbitrary weight or an image obtained by calculating the inter-function images is displayed or these are combined with the tomogram with an arbitrary weight. Furthermore, an operator can arbitrarily set and modify the range to which weight is applied, the range for displaying the gradation color scale, and the range to be combined.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatus comprising a mechanical collimator for effecting passage in a given direction of photons with given energy emitted from an object injected or dosed with a drug containing a radioactive isotope; a former-stage detector for detecting positional information at a point of reaction of photons having passed through the mechanical collimator and information on the momentum of charged particles generated by the reaction; a latter-stage detector disposed in the subsequent stage of the former-stage detector to detect information on the photons having been scattered by the former-stage detector; and image reconstruction means for reconstructing an image from detection information having been collected from the former-stage detector and latter-stage detector, wherein the image reconstruction means is built so that differentiation is carried out on the information on the photons having passed through the mechanical collimator and the information on the photons having been scattered b

Abstract: An optical pickup device has a semiconductor laser emitting light which is in turn branched via a diffraction grating into at least three beams of light including a main beam and two sub beams which are in turn condensed via an objective lens on an optical disk at a guide groove and reflected by the optical disk to provide three reflections of light which are in turn received by detectors, each divided into two regions, respectively, to generate a tracking error signal. The diffraction grating is divided into three regions including a first region, a second region and a third region located intermediate therebetween, each having a periodical structure out of phase, the periodical structure having grating grooves in a direction determined depending on the phase of the second region to incline relative to a direction perpendicular to the guide groove of the optical disk.

Abstract: An image processing method comprises: an inputting step of inputting image data which is obtained by imaging a subject for a predetermined period of time with a medical imaging apparatus and is arranged in time series; an extracting along the time axis step of extracting pixels which satisfy a predetermined condition along the time axis from all the pixels arranged in time series for each pixel coordinate position with respect to each pixel in the image data; and a constructing step of constructing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image based on the pixels extracted along the time axis in the extracting along the time axis step.

Abstract: A radiographing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is characterized in that an image processing device comprises an acquisition device which acquires projection data of a first energy spectrum and projection data of a second energy spectrum, and a synthetic image generating device which synthesizes a first image on the basis of the projection data of the first energy spectrum, and a second image on the basis of the projection data of the second energy spectrum according to a predetermined synthetic condition, and generating a synthetic image, and a display device displays the generated synthetic image.

Abstract: A method that accurately and conveniently detects a compound shown by the formula (I) in a human sample is disclosed. An antibody that reacts with the compound shown by the formula (I), but does not cross-react with the N-oxide metabolite and the desmethyl levofloxacin metabolite of the compound shown by the formula (I) is prepared using an antigen produced by binding bovine serum albumin to the compound shown by the formula (I) through the 6-position carboxyl group. Immunoassay that measures the compound shown by the formula (I) that has not been metabolized is implemented using the above antibody.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a monoclonal antibody against a soluble fibrin, which specifically recognizes a conformation-changed site newly occurred in a C-terminal region of an A?-chain of the soluble fibrin formed through thrombin digestion of fibrinogen. The present invention is also directed to a hybridoma which produces the antibody, an immunological assay method employing the antibody, and a method for evaluating hypercoagulability in a test sample by measuring the soluble fibrin level in the sample with the assay method. Through employment of the monoclonal antibody of the present invention, soluble fibrin on which plasmin has not acted, which reflects exclusively initial hypercoagulability, can be specifically detected.

Abstract: An image for treatment region considered as already completed treatment in the course of medical treatment is acquired. Time up to completion of the whole scope of intended treatment regions is estimated on the basis of the already completed treatment region.

Abstract: An image processing device according to the present invention which includes image creating means for creating each of a smoothened image and a sharpened image with respect to at least a part of image data, and mixed image creating means for mixing the smoothened image and the sharpened image created by the image creating means to create a mixed image, including: analysis quantity calculating means for calculating an analysis quantity on plural pixel values in each matrix that surrounds each pixel of the image data and has any matrix size; control means for controlling the mixing ratio between the smoothened image and the sharpened image in the mixed image creating means in accordance with the analysis quantity calculated by the analysis quantity calculating means; and display means for displaying the mixed image that is controlled by the control means and output from the mixed image generating means.

Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus is provided, having a function for deciding an X-ray imaging condition prior to scanning, the X-ray imaging condition allowing an acquisition of contrast to noise ratio appropriate for identifying a diagnostic object. Prior to the real scan, a three-dimensional model of an object is estimated from scanogram projection data of the object, a contrast to noise ratio enabling identification of the diagnostic object is calculated, based on the diagnostic object size set by an operator via an operating device when planning the scan, the three-dimensional model, and a standard imaging condition that is stored in a storage device. Then, an optimum irradiated X-ray condition (tube current and tube voltage) is calculated for achieving the contrast to noise ratio enabling identification. The X-ray condition being calculated is displayed in the form of information such as image SD value and exposure dose, under the calculated X-ray condition and under other condition.

Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus is provided with an X-ray tube current modulation pattern calculation means that calculates an X-ray tube current modulation pattern based on a 3-dimensional model of an object calculated based on a scanogram image of the object, start-up shape acquisition means that acquires a start-up shape of CT values of a predetermined region of the object or CT value time differences after injecting contrast agent into the object, time contrast curve prediction means that predicts a time contrast curve indicative of a time sequential change of contrast in a diagnostic portion of the object at each slice position at a scan time based on the acquired start-up shape of the CT values or CT value time differences, object 3-dimensional model modification means that modifies a 3-dimensional model of the object based on the predicted time contrast curve, and X-ray tube electric current modulation pattern modification means that modifies the X-ray tube electric current modulation pattern based on the modifi

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus and a drive apparatus having the same are provided. Second light-receiving elements or third light-receiving elements for receiving ±first-order diffraction light beams from a polarization hologram are arranged outwardly of a circular region having the optical axis of a zero-order diffraction light beam on a light detector as its center, a radius of which is expressed by (2×t/n)×(f2/f1), where f1 denotes a focal length of an objective lens, f2 denotes a focal length of a coupling lens, t denotes a maximum value of a light transmitting layer thickness, n denotes a refractive index of a light transmitting layer.

Abstract: An image display apparatus according to the invention comprises reading section (11a) which reads in an image data set of a subject acquired by a medical imaging apparatus (2) from a data recording device (13) which stores the image data set; input sections (16, 17) which input a desired object organ to the read-in image data set; object organ extracting section (11b) which extracts the inputted object organ; reference position setting section (11h) which sets a reference position for producing an unfolded image in the circumferential direction of the bore of the extracted object organ; calculating device (11e) which calculates pixel information in the circumferential direction of the bore of the object organ from the set reference position; and image display section (15) which displays the calculated pixel information in the circumferential direction of the bore of the object organ.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of pretreating a sample for conveniently, quickly and accurately measuring the total amount of adiponectin present in a biological sample contaminated with various adiponectin multimers. The method of measuring an sample for immunologically assaying the total amount of adiponectin present in the sample comprises reacting, with an adiponectin-containing sample, at least one of a reducing agent, an acid or a salt thereof, a surfactant, and a protease.

Abstract: A coin processor according to the present invention includes a temporary storage portion that temporarily stores coins, and the temporary storage portion includes: a conveyor belt; a one side conveyor guide that is disposed on one edge side of the conveyor belt in a width direction thereof; an other side conveyor guide that is disposed on an other edge side of the conveyor belt in the width direction with a spacing narrower than a diameter of a coin to be stored between the one side conveyor guide and the other side conveyor guide, and that slopes upward toward outside in the width direction; a drive portion that drives the conveyor belt; and a stacking surface guide that is provided at one end portion of the conveyor belt in a lengthwise direction thereof, and that slopes upward toward outside of the conveyor belt in the lengthwise direction.