Abstract: A plurality of known markers is disposed in a specific district. A marker detection section detects the known markers existing in the image photographed by an image pickup device. A position/orientation relation calculation section identifies the detected known marker to calculate position and orientation relations between the identified known marker and the image pickup device. An associated information obtaining section obtains predetermined information associated with the identified known marker. An information processing section processes the obtained predetermined information based on the calculated position and orientation relations. A display device superimposes and displays the processed information on the photographed image. At least the image pickup device and display device are disposed in a portable information terminal, and the other sections are disposed in a server which can perform radio communication with the portable information terminal.

Abstract: A plurality of known markers is disposed in a specific district. A marker detection section detects the known markers existing in the image photographed by an image pickup device. A position/orientation relation calculation section identifies the detected known marker to calculate position and orientation relations between the identified known marker and the image pickup device. An associated information obtaining section obtains predetermined information associated with the identified known marker. An information processing section processes the obtained predetermined information based on the calculated position and orientation relations. A display device superimposes and displays the processed information on the photographed image. At least the image pickup device and display device are disposed in a portable information terminal, and the other sections are disposed in a server which can perform radio communication with the portable information terminal.

Abstract: A position information management unit estimates position/orientation information, in an object coordinate system, of an image input unit configured to inputs an image, from the image input by the image input unit. A dynamic deformation control unit dynamically controls the deformation of three-dimensional model data arranged in the object coordinate system. A two-dimensional projection image generating unit generates two-dimensional projection image data, in a view field of the image input unit, of the three-dimensional model data deformation-controlled by the dynamic deformation control unit, based on the position/orientation information of the image input unit estimated by the position information management unit. A superposed display unit displays the two-dimensional projection image data generated by the two-dimensional projection image-generating unit, in superposed relation with the image input by the image input unit.

Abstract: A data authoring device sets predetermined relevant information for an information presenting apparatus which outputs the predetermined relevant information by use of spatial orientation information meant by an object of the real world and/or a previously decided marker with respect to the object and/or the marker. A spatial orientation information input section inputs the spatial orientation information of the object and/or the previously decided marker. A relevant information setting section sets a method of displaying the predetermined relevant information. A spatial orientation information display section displays the spatial orientation information of the object and/or the previously decided marker input, and displays the predetermined relevant information in accordance with the displaying method. A data output section outputs data describing display setting of the display by the spatial orientation information display section.

Abstract: A data authoring device sets predetermined relevant information for an information presenting apparatus which outputs the predetermined relevant information by use of spatial orientation information meant by an object of the real world and/or a previously decided marker with respect to the object and/or the marker. A spatial orientation information input section inputs the spatial orientation information of the object and/or the previously decided marker. A relevant information setting section sets a method of displaying the predetermined relevant information. A spatial orientation information display section displays the spatial orientation information of the object and/or the previously decided marker input, and displays the predetermined relevant information in accordance with the displaying method. A data output section outputs data describing display setting of the display by the spatial orientation information display section.

Abstract: An information presentation apparatus comprises a three-dimensional model data recording apparatus. A projection apparatus projects a marker whose three-dimensional position/posture relation with a photography object is known onto the photography object. An image input apparatus inputs the photography object on which the marker is projected. A position detection apparatus uses the position of the marker in an image to detect a relative position relation between the photography object and the image input apparatus. A display apparatus uses the position of the photography object to superpose and display three-dimensional model data of the photography object upon the image of the photography object so that the position of the image of the photography object coincides with the position of the three-dimensional model data.

Abstract: A three-dimensional position and orientation sensing apparatus including: an image input section which inputs an image acquired by an image acquisition apparatus and showing at least three markers having color or geometric characteristics as one image, three-dimensional positional information of the markers with respect to an object to be measured being known in advance; a region extracting section which extracts a region corresponding to each marker in the image; a marker identifying section which identifies the individual markers based on the color or geometric characteristics of the markers in the extracted regions; and a position and orientation calculating section which calculates the three-dimensional position and orientation of the object to be measured with respect to the image acquisition apparatus, by using positions of the identified markers in the image input to the image input section, and the positional information of the markers with respect to the object to be measured.

Abstract: A position information management unit estimates position/orientation information, in an object coordinate system, of an image input unit configured to inputs an image, from the image input by the image input unit. A dynamic deformation control unit dynamically controls the deformation of three-dimensional model data arranged in the object coordinate system. A two-dimensional projection image generating unit generates two-dimensional projection image data, in a view field of the image input unit, of the three-dimensional model data deformation-controlled by the dynamic deformation control unit, based on the position/orientation information of the image input unit estimated by the position information management unit. A superposed display unit displays the two-dimensional projection image data generated by the two-dimensional projection image-generating unit, in superposed relation with the image input by the image input unit.

Abstract: A plurality of known markers is disposed in a specific district. A marker detection section detects the known markers existing in the image photographed by an image pickup device. A position/orientation relation calculation section identifies the detected known marker to calculate position and orientation relations between the identified known marker and the image pickup device. An associated information obtaining section obtains predetermined information associated with the identified known marker. An information processing section processes the obtained predetermined information based on the calculated position and orientation relations. A display device superimposes and displays the processed information on the photographed image. At least the image pickup device and display device are disposed in a portable information terminal, and the other sections are disposed in a server which can perform radio communication with the portable information terminal.

Abstract: A reference frame adapted to be fitted to a subject of medical treatment and provided with markers for determining the position or the orientation of the subject comprises fitting section for fitting the reference frame with the subject at least three spots (tops of the left and right ears and the nasal projection) along the undulations of the surface thereof and three or more than three markers detectable at least ether in an X-ray image or in an MRI image of the reference frame, the markers being to be arranged at predetermined positions not connectable by a straight line. A surgical operation navigating system determines the coordinates of the markers in a coordinate system defined for the image taken for the purpose of medical examination of the subject who is carrying the reference frame on the basis of the obtained image.

Abstract: The present invention writes the obtained two-dimensional image data of a body including a diseased portion in a computer or the like, and displays a three-dimensional image of the body including the diseased portion and the related data in the same monitor. The diseased portion data is then converted into a three-dimensional construction with use of a three-dimensional construction reconstructing section. The geometrical center of the three-dimensional constructed image is calculated by a geometrical center calculation section, and a plurality of linear lines or one linear line having the shortest distance directing from the geometrical center to the outside of the body is then calculated. The calculated line/lines is/are displayed to be overlapped on an image of the body including the diseased portion. In this manner, the present invention provides a stereotaxy operation route searching apparatus for showing a guideline of a low-invasive operation strategy to an operator, and the searching method.

Abstract: An information presentation apparatus comprises a three-dimensional model data recording apparatus. A projection apparatus projects a marker whose three-dimensional position/posture relation with a photography object is known onto the photography object. An image input apparatus inputs the photography object on which the marker is projected. A position detection apparatus uses the position of the marker in an image to detect a relative position relation between the photography object and the image input apparatus. A display apparatus uses the position of the photography object to superpose and display three-dimensional model data of the photography object upon the image of the photography object so that the position of the image of the photography object coincides with the position of the three-dimensional model data.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus comprises a navigation-related information generating section and a display section. The navigation-related information generating section measures the position and orientation of an object and a target in a three-dimensional space and generate navigation-related information to be used for navigating the object toward the target. The display section displays the navigation-related information generated by the navigation-related information generating section in any of different modes depending on the relationship of the position and orientation of the object and that of the target. A surgical operation image acquisition/display apparatus comprises an observation section, an image display section and a specifying section. The observation section includes a plurality of observation sections whose position and orientation is modifiable.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus comprises a navigation-related information generating section and a display section. The navigation-related information generating section measures the position and orientation of an object and a target in a three-dimensional space and generate navigation-related information to be used for navigating the object toward the target. The display section displays the navigation-related information generated by the navigation-related information generating section in any of different modes depending on the relationship of the position and orientation of the object and that of the target. A surgical operation image acquisition/display apparatus comprises an observation section, an image display section and a specifying section. The observation section includes a plurality of observation sections whose position and orientation is modifiable.

Abstract: The present invention writes the obtained two-dimensional image data of a body including a diseased portion in a computer or the like, and displays a three-dimensional image of the body including the diseased portion and the related data in the same monitor. The diseased portion data is then converted into a three-dimensional construction with use of a three-dimensional construction reconstructing section. The geometrical center of the three-dimensional constructed image is calculated by a geometrical center calculation section, and a plurality of linear lines or one linear line having the shortest distance directing from the geometrical center to the outside of the body is then calculated. The calculated line/lines is/are displayed to be overlapped on an image of the body including the diseased portion. In this manner, the present invention provides a stereotaxy operation route searching apparatus for showing a guideline of a low-invasive operation strategy to an operator, and the searching method.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus comprises a navigation-related information generating section and a display section. The navigation-related information generating section measures the position and orientation of an object and a target in a three-dimensional space and generate navigation-related information to be used for navigating the object toward the target. The display section displays the navigation-related information generated by the navigation-related information generating section in any of different modes depending on the relationship of the position and orientation of the object and that of the target. A surgical operation image acquisition/display apparatus comprises an observation section, an image display section and a specifying section. The observation section includes a plurality of observation sections whose position and orientation is modifiable.

Abstract: A medical operation simulator includes a three-dimensional image reconstruction section, an instrument-image forming section, and an approach data presenting section. The three-dimensional image reconstructing section processes data representing slice images, thereby generating three-dimensional image data. The three-dimensional image data is supplied to a display device. The instrument-image forming section forms an image of a medical instrument. The image moves in the same way that a medical instrument provided on an operation input device is manipulated by an operator. The instrument-image forming section supplies data representing the image of the instrument to the display device. The display device displays the image of the instrument together with a three-dimensional image represented by the three-dimensional image data generated by the three-dimensional image reconstructing means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating bone and meat of the upper half of a poultry carcass with a variety of the sizes are provided, wherein first cutting is effected in the neighborhood of a shoulder joint to disconnect tissues under influence of a separation force applied between the upper half of a poultry carcass and the head of a humerus, second cutting is effected along the surface of the front side of a furcula, and then breast meat is efficiently separated by a conventional device with a higher recovery rate and an auto-loading system comprising a plurality of buffer conveyors is provided, wherein the upper halves of poultry carcasses are continuously loaded to as many apparatuses for the separating without downtime.

Abstract: The numbers of nodes forming each polygon and the spatial coordinates of these nodes are stored as polygon data in a data storage unit. On the basis of this stored data, a model drawing unit expresses a model. To deform the model by using an operating tool expressed by polygons, a node formation circuit forms new nodes near a contact node to repaste polygons, thereby expressing an incised portion.

Abstract: A detecting portion outputs a contact state signal in accordance with a contact state with respect to an object to be manipulated. The contact state signal represents at least one of information of a sense of sliding of the detection portion with respect to the object and surface information such as surface roughness of the object. A signal processing section converts the contact state signal from the detecting portion into tactility information corresponding to at least one of the information of the sense of sliding and the surface information. A tactility providing portion is excited in accordance with the tactility information from the signal processing section to generate at least one of a traveling wave corresponding to the information of the sense of sliding and a standing wave corresponding to the surface information. A transmission portion transmits at least one of the traveling wave and the standing wave generated by the tactility providing portion to a finger of an operator.