Patents by Inventor Tokunori Kimura
Tokunori Kimura 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).
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Patent number: 8344730Abstract: An apparatus includes a unit which acquires, by a first sequence, an MR signal before administration of a contrast agent and which also acquires, by a second sequence, an MR signal after the administration, the first sequence dephasing a magnetization after RE excitation to make a greater signal reduction in a first signal component regarding a fluid flowing within a first range than in a second signal component regarding the fluid flowing within a second less than the first range, the second sequence bringing the MR signal after the administration to a level corresponding to the concentration of the agent, a unit which reconstructs first and second images, and a unit which generates a third image on the basis of the first and second images, the third image showing the degree of a change of the fluid after the administration from a state before the administration.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Tokunori Kimura
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Patent number: 8228063Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires plural pieces of magnetic resonance data for generating plural species of image data of which contrasts are mutually different from a same object with mutually different data amounts by setting parameters for controlling the contrasts to mutually different values. The image data generating unit generates the plural species of the image data by image reconstruction processing and composition processing of the plural pieces of the magnetic resonance data or plural pieces of data derived from the plural pieces of the magnetic resonance data.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Tokunori Kimura
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Publication number: 20120148137Abstract: An image data correcting device has a movement information acquiring section, a correcting section and a synthesizing section. The movement information acquiring section acquires movement information showing spatial distribution of the magnitude of a movement in the real space of an image pickup part of a detected body. The correcting section makes a correction different from that of a second area in a first area of image data collected by a scan of magnetic resonance imaging on the basis of the movement information. The synthesizing section synthesizes respective image data of the first area and the second area corrected by the correcting section.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicants: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventor: TOKUNORI KIMURA
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Publication number: 20120074940Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit and data processing condition setting unit. The imaging unit is configured to acquire magnetic resonance data corresponding to a sampling region asymmetric in a wave number direction in k-space from an object to generate image data based on the magnetic resonance data by data processing including phase correction and filter processing for obtaining a complex conjugate. The data processing condition setting unit is configured to set a condition for the data processing according to an imaging condition influencing a phase distribution used for the phase correction or the phase distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventor: Tokunori KIMURA
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Patent number: 8126237Abstract: An image data correcting device has a movement information acquiring section, a correcting section and a synthesizing section. The movement information acquiring section acquires movement information showing a spatial distribution of the magnitude of a movement in the real space of an image pickup part of a detected body. The correcting section makes a correction different from that of a second area in a first area of image data collected by a scan of magnetic resonance imaging on the basis of the movement information. The synthesizing section synthesizes respective image data of the first area and the second area corrected by the correcting section.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2005Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Tokunori Kimura
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Patent number: 8085040Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit which applies a labeling pulse to invert a spin included in a labeling region within part of a imaging region and then collects a echo signal from a time point when an inversion time has passed from the application of the labeling pulse, and a control unit, the control unit controlling the imaging unit so that the echo signal in the imaging region is collected a plurality of times with variations in the inversion time, the control unit also controlling the imaging unit so that a time ranging from a reference time point within a biological signal obtained from a subject to the application of the labeling pulse is a time determined in accordance with the inversion time.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2010Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignees: Tokai University Educational System, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Shinya Yamada, Hitoshi Kanazawa, Tokunori Kimura, Masaaki Umeda
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Publication number: 20110199082Abstract: Provided is an MRI apparatus. In the MRI apparatus, a data collection unit repetitively performs a tag mode of applying an RF wave to at least an upstream portion of an imaging area to perform fluid labeling of a fluid flown into the imaging area and, after a lapse of an inversion time from application of the RF wave, performing magnetic resonance data collection, while changing the inversion time. An image reconstruction unit reconstructs a plurality of tag images corresponding to a plurality of different inversion times based on the magnetic resonance data collected in the tag mode. A reference image generation unit generates a reference image based on the plurality of the tag images. A fluid image generation unit generates a subtraction image between each of the tag images and the reference image as a fluid image.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventor: Tokunori KIMURA
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Patent number: 7978896Abstract: A data correction apparatus includes a sensitivity correction unit and an SNR distribution correcting unit. The sensitivity correction unit produces first processed data by performing sensitivity correction to first objective data obtained based on correction objective data using ununiform sensitivity distribution of a sensor for acquiring the correction objective data. The SNR distribution correcting unit produces pieces of component data each subjected to corresponding weighting depending on an SNR distribution and corresponding filtering having a mutually different intensity using second objective data obtained based on the correction objective data to produce second processed data by compounding the pieces of the component data.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2007Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Tokunori Kimura
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Patent number: 7970194Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a specifying unit, a calculation unit and a display unit. The storage unit stores diffusion weighted image data. The specifying unit specifies a calculation target region on the diffusion weighted image data. The calculation unit calculates at least one of a diffusion coefficient and a fractional anisotropy serving an index of diffusion anisotropy with regard to the calculation target region based on the diffusion weighted image data. The display unit displays at least one of the diffusion coefficient and the fractional anisotropy calculated by the calculation unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Tokunori Kimura
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Publication number: 20110074417Abstract: To provide a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus capable of acquiring a non-contrast MRA image in which a background signal is sufficiently suppressed in a shorter time. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has: a data acquiring unit that acquires a plurality of pieces of magnetic resonance data associated with a plurality of different delay times according to a pulse sequence in which a region-selective saturation pulse is first applied, a region-non-selective inversion recovery pulse is then applied, and then the magnetic resonance data is acquired, the delay time being defined as a period from a time of application of the saturation pulse to a time of start of acquisition of the magnetic resonance data; and a blood flow image creating unit that creates a plurality of pieces of blood flow image data associated with the plurality of different delay times using the magnetic resonance data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventors: Shinichi Kitane, Tokunori Kimura, Yuichi Yamashita
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Publication number: 20110071384Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires first data in which a tissue of interest has higher signal intensity than a background and second data in which the tissue of interest has lower signal intensity than the background, with regard to images of the same region of the same subject, and a generation unit that generates, on the basis of the first data and the second data, third data in which the contrast of the tissue of interest to the background is higher than those in the first and second data.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Tokunori Kimura, Masato Ikedo
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Patent number: 7903849Abstract: A diagnosis target image is input, and a template ROI which is set on an image to divide the area on the image into predetermined areas in anatomical terms, physiological terms, or other scientific terms is read out from a storage unit. A matching processing unit warps the template ROI in correspondence with each diagnosis target image on the basis of the feature information of the diagnosis target image extracted by a feature information extraction unit. This warping is executed until an index indicating the degree of matching between the template ROI and the diagnosis image exceeds a predetermined threshold. The warped template ROI is displayed on a display unit upon being superimposed on the diagnosis image.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2006Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Tokunori Kimura
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Publication number: 20110043206Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a correction data acquisition unit configured to perform diffusion weighted imaging to a phantom having a known apparent diffusion coefficient and measure an apparent diffusion coefficient of the phantom to acquire correction data from a measured apparent diffusion coefficient and the known apparent diffusion coefficient, and an image generating unit configured to perform diffusion weighted imaging to an object with a same parameter setting as that of the diffusion weighted imaging to the phantom to generate an apparent diffusion coefficient image from a diffusion weighted imaging data of the object and the correction data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventors: Tokunori KIMURA, Mitsukazu Kamata
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Publication number: 20110037466Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit which applies a labeling pulse to invert a spin included in a labeling region within part of a imaging region and then collects a echo signal from a time point when an inversion time has passed from the application of the labeling pulse, and a control unit, the control unit controlling the imaging unit so that the echo signal in the imaging region is collected a plurality of times with variations in the inversion time, the control unit also controlling the imaging unit so that a time ranging from a reference time point within a biological signal obtained from a subject to the application of the labeling pulse is a time determined in accordance with the inversion time.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicants: TOKAI UNIVERSITY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Shinya Yamada, Hitoshi Kanazawa, Tokunori Kimura, Masaaki Umeda
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Patent number: 7880464Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit which applies a labeling pulse to invert a spin included in a labeling region within part of a imaging region and then collects a echo signal from a time point when an inversion time has passed from the application of the labeling pulse, and a control unit, the control unit controlling the imaging unit so that the echo signal in the imaging region is collected a plurality of times with variations in the inversion time, the control unit also controlling the imaging unit so that a time ranging from a reference time point within a biological signal obtained from a subject to the application of the labeling pulse is a time determined in accordance with the inversion time.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignees: Tokai University Educational System, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Shinya Yamada, Hitoshi Kanazawa, Tokunori Kimura, Masaaki Umeda
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Patent number: 7821261Abstract: A data processing system configured to process acquired image data (e.g., as part of a diagnostic imaging apparatus) uses a signal-power estimating unit for estimating signal power by using reference data containing data different from processing-target data and a data processing unit for processing the processing-target data by using a WF (wiener filter) based on the signal power estimated by the signal-power estimating unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2006Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Tokunori Kimura
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Publication number: 20100259264Abstract: A data processing system configured to process acquired image data (e.g., as part of a diagnostic imaging apparatus) uses a signal-power estimating unit for estimating signal power by using reference data containing data different from processing-target data and a data processing unit for processing the processing-target data by using a WF (wiener_filter) based on the signal power estimated by the signal-power estimating unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventor: TOKUNORI KIMURA
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Publication number: 20100253342Abstract: An apparatus includes a unit which acquires, by a first sequence, an MR signal before administration of a contrast agent and which also acquires, by a second sequence, an MR signal after the administration, the first sequence dephasing a magnetization after RE excitation to make a greater signal reduction in a first signal component regarding a fluid flowing within a first range than in a second signal component regarding the fluid flowing within a second less than the first range, the second sequence bringing the MR signal after the administration to a level corresponding to the concentration of the agent, a unit which reconstructs first and second images, and a unit which generates a third image on the basis of the first and second images, the third image showing the degree of a change of the fluid after the administration from a state before the administration.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventor: Tokunori KIMURA
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Patent number: 7756562Abstract: There is provided a blood-flow analysis apparatus for analyzing the time intensity curve for each pixel or region of interest of time-series images collected by photographing a desired region of a sample over time with a medical modality by applying a tracer to the blood of the sample. The analysis apparatus includes a calculation unit for calculating parameters indicative of blood-flow dynamics peculiar to the measured tissue of the sample as ratio to or difference from parameters at a desired reference region on the basis of only the time intensity curve of the measured tissue, and a visual-information presentation unit for visually presenting the calculations by the calculation unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2004Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Tokunori Kimura
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Publication number: 20100081918Abstract: A magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus includes a derivation unit to derive an apparent diffusion coefficient regarding a pixel position for each pixel position included in a region of interest in at least two original images obtained by imaging a same imaging region of a same subject using at least two b-factors which are different from each other, respectively, based on pixel values of each of at least two original images regarding the pixel positions, and a first estimation unit to estimate a pixel value obtained by using a b-factor which is different from the at least two b-factors, regarding each pixel position included in the region of interest, based on the apparent diffusion coefficient derived for each pixel position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Inventors: Satoshi SUGIURA, Tokunori Kimura, Mitsukazu Kamata