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: An inputting/designating section inputs a multimedia object or designates a multimedia object previously stored in a database. A feature-value-determining section determines the feature value of the input or designated multimedia object. A weighting-factor-determining section determines the determined feature-value weighting factor of the multimedia object. A similarity-retrieval section retrieves the similarity of the multimedia object previously stored in the database by using the determined feature value and the determined feature-value weighting factor. A displaying section displays a multimedia object similar to the multimedia object designated by the inputting/designating section in accordance with the result of similarity retrieval. A similarity-ranking-changing section changes similarity rankings of the displayed multimedia object.

Abstract: A feature values definition input section inputs a feature values definition of object data used for retrieving. A feature values calculation section calculates feature values of object data previously stored in a database by using the feature values definition input by the feature values definition input section. An object data input/selection section inputs object data or previously selects object data from the database in which the object data is stored. A retrieval section retrieves similar object data from object data previously stored in the database by using the feature values of the object data input/selected by the object data input/selection section and the object data calculated by the feature values calculating section.

Abstract: An object retrieval method used is characterized as follows. When a user selects objects, the dispersion between the objects is found with respect to each of a plurality of feature quantities. Within a retrieval range of objects, the dispersion between the objects is found with respect to each of a plurality of feature quantities. Both dispersions are compared for each feature quantity. As a result of the comparison, there may be a feature quantity which causes more converged dispersion in the selected objects. This feature quantity is provided with a weight larger than any other feature quantities to weight each feature quantity. An object is retrieved from the retrieval range based on the weighted feature quantities.

Abstract: A feature quantity calculation device to calculate a feature quantity for a 3-D object from 3-D object data contained in the 3-D object includes a 3-D object data input module to input the 3-D object data, a 3-D object data analysis module to analyze the input 3-D object data, a volume data conversion module to convert the analyzed 3-D object data to volume data, and a feature quantity calculation module to calculate a feature quantity from the converted volume 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: A medical image display apparatus includes a first image output unit which outputs a real image of a subject that is grabbed by an image input unit. A three-dimensional position posture detection unit detects a position and posture of each of the image input unit and the subject and outputs position posture information. A second image output unit generates a data image of the subject based on prerecorded data of the subject using the position posture information and outputs the data image. An image display unit superposes the real image of the subject and the data image of the subject on each other and displays a superposed image. The display area of the data image of the subject output from the second image output unit is larger than that of the real image of the subject output from the first image output unit.

Abstract: A surgical operation navigation apparatus comprises a medical image storage section that stores three-dimensional information of a subject measured by a medical image diagnosis unit. A modification information storage section modifies and stores the three-dimensional information of the subject based on predicted modification of the subject. A morphological shape measuring instrument measures a three-dimensional morphological shape of the subject. A morphological shape information storage section compares a three-dimensional morphological shape of a subject with three-dimensional information, and selects and outputs three-dimensional information of the subject that is the most analogous to the morphological shape of the subject. A data image generating section generates data image from the selected, outputted three-dimensional information of the subject.

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.