Patents by Inventor Tetsuo Nakazawa

Tetsuo Nakazawa 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: 10342500
    Abstract: In a case where helical scanning, etc., is performed in an X-ray CT apparatus, upsampled projection data that more approximates to an observed value is obtained. There is provided an X-ray CT apparatus that improves spatial resolution of an overall effective field of view without reducing rotation speed, in an FFS method of acquiring projection data through moving of an X-ray focus position to a plurality of positions. The X-ray CT apparatus: converts projection data acquired through helical scanning into projection data of normal scanning performed by one rotation; generates a virtual-counter-data space in which virtual counter data are acquired on substantially coincident X-ray transmission path in the converted projection data; performs upsampling in a view direction; and similarly upsamples FFS projection data in the view direction for focus-shifted projection data obtained by performing the helical scanning while causing the X-ray focus position to shift (virtual counter data space generation).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Fujii, Taiga Goto, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9895124
    Abstract: In an FFS method that improves spatial resolution by moving an X-ray focal spot to multiple positions to acquire projection data, in order to provide an X-ray CT apparatus and an image reconstruction method that enables to improve spatial resolution of the entire effective field of view without reducing a rotational speed, the X-ray focal spot in the X-ray tube device 101 is shifted to acquire focal shift projection data (FFS projection data), the virtual view generation unit 126 up-samples the FFS projection data (generates a virtual view) in the view direction, and the reconstruction computing unit 127 reconstructs an image using actual data of the FFS projection data in the central region 604 closer to the image center than a predetermined boundary and using the up-sampled projection data in the peripheral region 603 outside the boundary in an image reconstruction computing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Fujii, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9826952
    Abstract: To provide an X-ray CT apparatus and a scanning method that can scan a corpse efficiently, a death mode is selected and input to the CPU of an image processing device by performing a mouse-click or touch operation on any of buttons on a death mode selection window. The CPU obtains scanning conditions from the storage unit according to the input death mode. In a charred body mode, scanning conditions are defined in advance to perform high-resolution scanning for the pelvis portion and standard scanning for the other entire body for sex estimation. The sex estimation process estimates the corpse's sex based on the pelvis portion shape and outputs the results. In a drowned body mode, scanning conditions are defined in advance to perform high-resolution scanning for the lung field and standard scanning for the other entire body to measure a water amount in the lung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20170231589
    Abstract: In a case where helical scanning, etc., is performed in an X-ray CT apparatus, upsampled projection data that more approximates to an observed value is obtained. There is provided an X-ray CT apparatus that improves spatial resolution of an overall effective field of view without reducing rotation speed, in an FFS method of acquiring projection data through moving of an X-ray focus position to a plurality of positions. The X-ray CT apparatus: converts projection data acquired through helical scanning into projection data of normal scanning performed by one rotation; generates a virtual-counter-data space in which virtual counter data are acquired on substantially coincident X-ray transmission path in the converted projection data; performs upsampling in a view direction; and similarly upsamples FFS projection data in the view direction for focus-shifted projection data obtained by performing the helical scanning while causing the X-ray focus position to shift (virtual counter data space generation).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Hideaki FUJII, Taiga GOTO, Tetsuo NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20160183900
    Abstract: In an FFS method that improves spatial resolution by moving an X-ray focal spot to multiple positions to acquire projection data, in order to provide an X-ray CT apparatus and an image reconstruction method that enables to improve spatial resolution of the entire effective field of view without reducing a rotational speed, the X-ray focal spot in the X-ray tube device 101 is shifted to acquire focal shift projection data (FFS projection data), the virtual view generation unit 126 up-samples the FFS projection data (generates a virtual view) in the view direction, and the reconstruction computing unit 127 reconstructs an image using actual data of the FFS projection data in the central region 604 closer to the image center than a predetermined boundary and using the up-sampled projection data in the peripheral region 603 outside the boundary in an image reconstruction computing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki FUJII, Tetsuo NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20160095566
    Abstract: To provide an X-ray CT apparatus and a scanning method that can scan a corpse efficiently, a death mode is selected and input to the CPU of an image processing device by performing a mouse-click or touch operation on any of buttons on a death mode selection window. The CPU obtains scanning conditions from the storage unit according to the input death mode. In a charred body mode, scanning conditions are defined in advance to perform high-resolution scanning for the pelvis portion and standard scanning for the other entire body for sex estimation. The sex estimation process estimates the corpse's sex based on the pelvis portion shape and outputs the results. In a drowned body mode, scanning conditions are defined in advance to perform high-resolution scanning for the lung field and standard scanning for the other entire body to measure a water amount in the lung.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo NAKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 9241684
    Abstract: Previously captured three-dimensional image data of a subject from which a reference image is extracted are provided in the form of time-series volume data 14, 15 composed of two-dimensional image data groups which are recorded over at least one period of a periodically moving organ of the subject, with time-phase information of a biological signal of the subject added thereto. Two-dimensional image data whose time-phase information is identical with the time-phase information of the biological signal of the subject at the time when an ultrasonic image is captured are extracted from the three-dimensional image data so as to provide the reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Masa Yamamoto, Naoko Ajiki, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8830263
    Abstract: The medical image display device is provided with a medical image reading unit configured to read a medical image obtained by a medical image diagnostic apparatus, a projected image creating unit configured to project the medical image onto a projection plane to created the projected image, and a projected image display unit configured to display the projected image, wherein the projected image creating unit has a virtual liquid generating unit configured to generate virtual liquid, the light transmittance of which is not zero and a virtual liquid adding unit configured to add the virtual liquid to the surface of an organ within the medical image, and creates a projected image of the medical image to which the virtual liquid has been added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Kohara, Hiroto Kokubun, Nobutaka Abe, Takashi Shirahata, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8792698
    Abstract: Provided is a medical image processing device including: medical image information acquisition unit which acquires medical image information indicating a tomographic image of an object to be examined; evaluation region extraction unit which extracts an evaluation region for each of the tissues contained in the acquired medical image information according to a pixel value, a concentration value, or a luminance value for each of the tissues; and evaluation region display unit which displays the evaluation region on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Goto, Tetsuo Nakazawa, Kuniyoshi Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8791957
    Abstract: In a medical image display device for displaying a hollow organ of an examinee as a panoramic image, an operator is enabled to easily determine whether display of an observation site on the panoramic image is correct or not. The medical image display device having panoramic image creating means configured to create a panoramic image of a hollow organ of an examinee and display means configured to display the panoramic image includes false image probability calculating means configured to calculate a false image probability of a position in the panoramic image in accordance with the position concerned, and control means configured to display the false image probability in association with the panoramic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kadomura, Takashi Shirahata, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8542896
    Abstract: There is provided a medical image processing device and a medical image processing method that can extract and display lesion candidate regions having different sizes and similarity forms at a time through a series of processing. Therefore, with respect to a first medical image, a first evaluation for the curved surface form of the first medical image is made to extract first lesion candidate regions. With respect to each of the first lesion candidate regions extracted by a first extracting unit, a second evaluation for the curved surface form thereof is made to extract a second lesion candidate region. The second lesion candidate region extracted by a second extracting unit is superimposed and displayed on a second medical image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Shino Tanaka, Takashi Shirahata, Takayuki Kadomura, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8385622
    Abstract: An image diagnostic support device is configured to acquire a tomographic image including a lung region of an object to be examined and is provided with image display to display the tomographic image. The device is also configured to set up a measurement range, extract the chest wall from the image in the set measurement range, extract a thickened portion incidental to the chest wall in the measurement range, and measure the thickness of a thickened portion at each position in the measurement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Goto, Tetsuo Nakazawa, Tetsushi Honda
  • Publication number: 20120127200
    Abstract: The medical image display device is provided with a medical image reading unit configured to read a medical image obtained by a medical image diagnostic apparatus, a projected image creating unit configured to project the medical image onto a projection plane to created the projected image, and a projected image display unit configured to display the projected image, wherein the projected image creating unit has a virtual liquid generating unit configured to generate virtual liquid, the light transmittance of which is not zero and a virtual liquid adding unit configured to add the virtual liquid to the surface of an organ within the medical image, and creates a projected image of the medical image to which the virtual liquid has been added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Ryota Kohara, Hiroto Kokubun, Nobutaka Abe, Takashi Shirahata, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8055045
    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
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Kokubun, Osamu Miyazaki, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20110261072
    Abstract: In a medical image display device for displaying a hollow organ of an examinee as a panoramic image, an operator is enabled to easily determine whether display of an observation site on the panoramic image is correct or not. The medical image display device having panoramic image creating means configured to create a panoramic image of a hollow organ of an examinee and display means configured to display the panoramic image includes false image probability calculating means configured to calculate a false image probability of a position in the panoramic image in accordance with the position concerned, and control means configured to display the false image probability in association with the panoramic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Takayuki Kadomura, Takashi Shirahata, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20110228994
    Abstract: There is provided a medical image processing device and a medical image processing method that can extract and display lesion candidate regions having different sizes and similarity forms at a time through a series of processing. Therefore, with respect to a first medical image, a first evaluation for the curved surface form of the first medical image is made to extract first lesion candidate regions. With respect to each of the first lesion candidate regions extracted by a first extracting unit, a second evaluation for the curved surface form thereof is made to extract a second lesion candidate region. The second lesion candidate region extracted by a second extracting unit is superimposed and displayed on a second medical image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Shino Tanaka, Takashi Shirahata, Takayuki Kadomura, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20110215573
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe connection structure for interconnecting a connection pipe and an exhaust pipe that are arranged in an exhaust system of an, internal combustion engine. Either of the connection pipe or the exhaust pipe is inserted into the other, and the portion where the connection pipe and the exhaust pipe overlap each other is radially deformed and swaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Tanaka, Kazunari Ohno, Masayuki Sudoh, Fumihiko Sato, Tetsuo Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 7999235
    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
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Kohara, Takashi Shirahata, Tetsuo Nakazawa, Osamu Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20110002522
    Abstract: Provided is a medical image processing device including: medical image information acquisition means which acquires medical image information indicating a tomographic image of an object to be examined; evaluation region extraction means which extracts an evaluation region for each of the tissues contained in the acquired medical image information according to a pixel value, a concentration value, or a luminance value for each of the tissues; and evaluation region display means which displays the evaluation region on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Goto, Tetsuo Nakazawa, Kuniyoshi Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20100189332
    Abstract: An image diagnostic support device, which is connected with image acquisition means to acquire a tomographic image including a lung region of an object to be examined and is provided with image display means to display the tomographic image acquired by the image acquisition means as an image, is comprised of measurement range setting means that sets up a measurement range to extract the chest wall from the image, chest wall extracting means that extracts the chest wall from the image in the set measurement range, thickened portion extracting means that extracts a thickened portion incidental to the chest wall in the measurement range, and thickened portion measuring means that measures the thickness of a thickened portion at each position in the measurement range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Goto, Tetsuo Nakazawa, Tetsushi Honda