Patents by Inventor Takao Kasugai

Takao Kasugai 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: 11331050
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to sequentially execute plural imaging sequences includes: processing circuitry configured to calculate a predicted value of Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy which is an accumulated SAR (Specific Absorption Ratio) value over the plural imaging sequences; and a display configured to display information on the predicted value with respect to a predetermined safety reference value of the Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Tanoue, Takao Kasugai, Shinya Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20200397385
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to sequentially execute plural imaging sequences includes: processing circuitry configured to calculate a predicted value of Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy which is an accumulated SAR (Specific Absorption Ratio) value over the plural imaging sequences; and a display configured to display information on the predicted value with respect to a predetermined safety reference value of the Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuya TANOUE, Takao KASUGAI, Shinya OZAWA
  • Patent number: 10791995
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to sequentially execute plural imaging sequences includes: processing circuitry configured to calculate a predicted value of Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy which is an accumulated SAR (Specific Absorption Ratio) value over the plural imaging sequences; and a display configured to display information on the predicted value with respect to a predetermined safety reference value of the Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Tanoue, Takao Kasugai, Shinya Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20190231276
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to sequentially execute plural imaging sequences includes: processing circuitry configured to calculate a predicted value of Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy which is an accumulated SAR (Specific Absorption Ratio) value over the plural imaging sequences; and a display configured to display information on the predicted value with respect to a predetermined safety reference value of the Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuya TANOUE, Takao KASUGAI, Shinya OZAWA
  • Patent number: 10285653
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to sequentially execute plural imaging sequences includes: processing circuitry configured to calculate a predicted value of Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy which is an accumulated SAR (Specific Absorption Ratio) value over the plural imaging sequences; and a display configured to display information on the predicted value with respect to a predetermined safety reference value of the Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Tanoue, Takao Kasugai, Shinya Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20160015326
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to sequentially execute plural imaging sequences includes: processing circuitry configured to calculate a predicted value of Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy which is an accumulated SAR (Specific Absorption Ratio) value over the plural imaging sequences; and a display configured to display information on the predicted value with respect to a predetermined safety reference value of the Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuya TANOUE, Takao KASUGAI, Shinya OZAWA
  • Patent number: 8729896
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an input unit and a direction setting unit. The input unit receives a setting operation to set a plurality of image taking regions within a position determining image, from an operator of the apparatus. The direction setting unit sets phase encoding directions for the plurality of image taking regions to be in the same direction as one another, regardless of setting operations performed by the operator via the input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Ohmure, Takao Kasugai, Kensuke Shinoda, Isao Tatebayashi
  • Patent number: 8080996
    Abstract: According to the present invention, in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that receives magnetic resonance signals emitted from a patient by using a reception coil and reconstructs an image of the test subject from the received magnetic resonance signals, first and second cameras image positions of the patient and the reception coil and an audio recorder records the same to be stored in a PACS server when setting the reception coil. Further, when setting the reception coil for a subsequent time, information of the positions of the test subject and the reception coil is read from the PACS server and confirmed by using a monitor and a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Kasugai
  • Patent number: 8035380
    Abstract: Some of plural coil elements or the sections which have received magnetic resonance image signals associated with first image data are determined to be target coil elements or target coil sections. Second image data is generated by combining a plurality of pieces of first image data respectively associated with the target elements or sections. A display unit displays an image represented by the second image data. The target elements or sections are then changed based on specification after display of the second image data and third image data is generated by combining the plurality of pieces of first image data associated with the changed target elements sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Kasugai
  • Publication number: 20110187365
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an input unit and a direction setting unit. The input unit receives a setting operation to set a plurality of image taking regions within a position determining image, from an operator of the apparatus. The direction setting unit sets phase encoding directions for the plurality of image taking regions to be in the same direction as one another, regardless of setting operations performed by the operator via the input unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro OHMURE, Takao Kasugai, Kensuke Shinoda, Isao Tatebayashi
  • Publication number: 20090182221
    Abstract: According to the present invention, in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that receives magnetic resonance signals emitted from a patient by using a reception coil and reconstructs an image of the test subject from the received magnetic resonance signals, first and second cameras image positions of the patient and the reception coil and an audio recorder records the same to be stored in a PACS server when setting the reception coil. Further, when setting the reception coil for a subsequent time, information of the positions of the test subject and the reception coil is read from the PACS server and confirmed by using a monitor and a speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Takao KASUGAI
  • Publication number: 20080186025
    Abstract: A apparatus includes a unit which reconstructs a plurality of pieces of first image data associated with elements or sections, by use of magnetic resonance signals, a unit which determines the coil elements or the sections which have received the magnetic resonance signals which are at least some of the plurality of collected magnetic resonance signals as target elements or target sections, and generates second image data by combining the plurality of pieces of first image data associated with the target elements or the target sections, a display unit which displays an image represented by the second image data, and a unit which changes the target elements or the target sections based on specification after display of the second image, and generates third image data by combining the plurality of pieces of first image data associated with the changed target elements or the changed target sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Takao Kasugai
  • Patent number: 5422577
    Abstract: A method of producing slicing planes in a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system capable of obtaining a thin slice thickness easily. RF pulses for sequentially exciting a plurality of excitation planes for determining slicing planes are generated, wherein frequencies of the RF pulses are sequentially controlled such that each two adjacent ones of excitation planes have a mutually overlapping region and two separate non-overlapping regions. Then the generated RF pulses are applied to an object to be examined which has been placed in appropriate static and gradient magnetic fields for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the slicing planes defined by the excitation planes in accordance with the mutually overlapping region and the separate non-overlapping regions of each two adjacent ones of the excitation planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takao Kasugai
  • Patent number: 5017870
    Abstract: A repeat interval, the number of encoding and the number of excitations are set in a processor by inputting from a keyboard before the start of image acquisition. The image acquisition duration is calculated using these set parameters, and the value corresponding to the image acquisition duration is set in a timer. The timer performs down-counting during image acquisition. A remaining image acquisition duration generated from the timer is displayed on a display and/or is output as voice signals from a voice output unit. Informing the patient of the time remaining until completion of image acquisition reduces the patient's anxiety and thus reduces motion artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takao Kasugai, Tadahiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 4982328
    Abstract: In an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) apparatus, MR (magnetic resonance) images of a subject for animation-display are acquired in accordance with a predetermined timing. The timing is obtained by measuring a signal representing a biological phenomenon, for example, an electrocardiogram signal. The acquired MR images are corrected. An ROI (region of interest) for the MR images is set and standard MR image is designated among the acquired MR images. An average image value of the MR images in the ROI is calculated based on a difference in average image value between the designated standard MR image and other MR images in the ROI. The other MR images are corrected in accordance with the difference of the average image value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takao Kasugai
  • Patent number: 4772850
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system visualizes a tomographic image including a portion of interest by two-dimensional Fourier transformation of magnetic resonance data in readout and phase encoding directions. The system has an input section for inputting the central position of the portion of interest, and an image processing section for shifting data obtained by the Fourier transformation, so that the central position of the portion of interest is located at substantially the center of an image area, and transferring data at an end portion which falls outside the image area upon shifting into an opposite image area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takao Kasugai
  • Patent number: 4746865
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system has an excitation section, a signal collecting section, a first image processor, a maximum value detector, a threshold setting section, and a second image processor. The excitation section applies predetermined magnetic fields to a patient to excite a magnetic resonance phenomenon therein. The signal collecting section collects magnetic resonance signals produced by the magnetic resonance phenomenon. The first image processor obtains original image pixel data representing the distribution of magnetic resonance data, from the magnetic resonance signals. The maximum value detector detects the maximum amplitude value in original image pixel data. The threshold setting section sets a threshold value in accordance with the maximum amplitude value. The second image processor performs predetermined arithmetic processing using original image pixel data having an amplitude exceeding the threshold value, to thereby obtain processed image data from the original image pixel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takao Kasugai
  • Patent number: 4709211
    Abstract: A Fourier transformation imaging technique is used for NMR imaging. Spins in a selected plane are excited by selective RF pulses and an associated G.sub.z gradient and the selected spins are subjected to three mutually orthogonal gradients which provide the resonance signal with spatial resolution along each axis produced by phase encoding. The signals sampled and read out in the presence of a readout gradient are associated with spatial frequencies determined by the applied gradient fields. The Fourier transformation of the spin-echo signals obtained from repetition of the pulse sequences gives a two-dimensional image. The linear phase-encoding gradient is applied starting with a preliminary phase-encoding gradient which maximizes the spin-echo signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshio Machida, Takao Kasugai