Abstract: An image interpretation report creating apparatus for retrieving a key image corresponding to that in the previous examination from among images taken in this examination to display it on an image display terminal. The apparatus includes: a follow-up observation examination determining unit for determining whether this examination is an object of follow-up observation; a previous report determining unit for determining, as previous report data, report data on the same patient from among the report data; a previous report data acquiring unit for acquiring the previous report data; an image data acquiring unit for acquiring image data at this time; a key image estimating unit for estimating a key image at a slice position corresponding to the previous examination based on the previous report data; and an image data output unit for outputting image data representing examination images containing the key image to the image display terminal.

Abstract: An image interpretation support system by which past image interpretation results on an examination as an object of follow-up observation can be easily grasped. The system has: a server for storing a report database accumulating difference information between past reports in association with the respective past reports; and an image interpretation report creating apparatus connected thereto. The apparatus includes: a follow-up observation examination determining unit for determining whether or not this examination is an object of follow-up observation; a report finding control unit for creating an image interpretation report at this time by generating an image interpretation report creation screen and entering information in the screen; a changed portion extracting unit for extracting a changed portion to generate difference information; and a report saving unit for storing the difference information in association with the report at this time and the past report in the report database.

Abstract: An image interpretation report creating apparatus for retrieving a key image corresponding to that in the previous examination from among images taken in this examination to display it on an image display terminal. The apparatus includes: a follow-up observation examination determining unit for determining whether this examination is an object of follow-up observation; a previous report determining unit for determining, as previous report data, report data on the same patient from among the report data; a previous report data acquiring unit for acquiring the previous report data; an image data acquiring unit for acquiring image data at this time; a key image estimating unit for estimating a key image at a slice position corresponding to the previous examination based on the previous report data; and an image data output unit for outputting image data representing examination images containing the key image to the image display terminal.

Abstract: An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprises a device for finding prospective abnormal patterns in a radiation image of an object from an image signal representing the radiation image, and a device for finding anatomical information about the object from the image signal. From the image signal components of the image signal, which represent the image information at positions in the vicinity of each prospective abnormal pattern, a characteristic measure calculating device calculates a plurality of characteristic measures for each prospective abnormal pattern. An abnormal pattern finding device utilizes the characteristic measures and the anatomical information in order to find a true abnormal pattern from the prospective abnormal patterns.

Abstract: A method for compressing and extending image signals, which represent a plurality of images obtained by the recording of a set of images wherein the images of a single object are recorded simultaneously or sequentially, comprises the steps of carrying out inter-image operation processing on the image signals representing the plurality of the images, and carrying out signal compression processing on image signals, which have been obtained from the inter-image operation processing. In the course of reproducing the images, signal extension processing is carried out on image signals, which have been obtained from the signal compression processing. Reversed inter-image operation processing, which corresponds to the reversed operation of the inter-image operation processing, is then carried out on image signals, which have been obtained from the signal extension processing. Image signals corresponding to the images are thereby obtained.

Abstract: An image signal representing a radiation image comprising an object image and a background region is converted with a predetermined threshold value into a two-valued system, from which a binary image comprising regions approximately corresponding to the object image and the background region is formed.In cases where only one area makes up the region approximately corresponding to the background region in the binary image, a picture element, which corresponds to the image signal value closest to the threshold value among at least some of the picture elements constituting an edge of the binary image in the region approximately corresponding to the object image, is set as another area making up part of the region approximately corresponding to the background region. Thereby two areas separated by the region approximately corresponding to the object image are formed.

Abstract: From a series of primary image signal components of an image signal representing an image, secondary image signal components, which correspond to an enlarged image or a reduced image and the number of which is different from the number of the primary image signal components, are obtained from predetermined interpolating operation formulas. Values of coefficients in the predetermined interpolating operation formulas, which values correspond to a desired sharpness of an enlarged image or a reduced image, are calculated from values of the coefficients in the predetermined interpolating operation formulas, which values are different from each other and which values correspond to enlarged images or reduced images having the same scale of enlargement or the same scale of reduction and having different sharpness. Secondary image signal components are then obtained from the predetermined interpolating operation formulas in which the coefficients are set to the values thus calculated.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a read-out component, an image processing component, and a menu item display and selection component.

Abstract: In a radiation image recording and reproducing system for recording a radiation image of an object on a recording medium, obtaining an image signal by reading out the radiation image and sampling the image information read out, carrying out image processing of the image signal, and reproducing a visible image from the processed image signal, a radiation image read-out method comprises the steps of changing the sampling density in accordance with characteristics of the recorded radiation iamge. A radiation image processing method comprises the steps of changing the magnification of the visible image in accordance with characteristics of the recorded radiation image. A radiation image reproducing method comprises the steps of changing the reproducing density, the number of visible images reproduced on a single recording sheet or the number of recoridng sheets, on which the visible image reproduced, in accordance with characteristics of the recorded radiation image.

Abstract: In a method of adjusting read-out conditions for final read-out of a radiation image or for adjusting image processing conditions of a radiation image stored in a stimulable phosphor sheet by limiting the irradiation field. In adjusting read-out conditions for final read-out, image information obtained by preliminary read-out is subjected to a threshold value processing to detect a background portion inside of the irradiation field. The image information inside of the irradiation field constituted by the background portion and an object image portion surrounded by the background portion is selected from the image information obtained by the preliminary read-out. The read-out conditions in the final read-out adjusted on the basis of the selected image information.

Abstract: In a method of reading out a radiation image stored in a stimulable phosphor sheet, preliminary read-out for approximately detecting the image is conducted. A cumulative histogram of the image information is created, read-out conditions in the final read-out are corrected based on a characteristic value of the cumulative histogram, then the final read-out is conducted using the corrected conditions. Alternatively, a standard image information range is determined from the characteristic value, and the read-out conditions are adjusted so that the standard range corresponds to a predetermined electronic signal range. In addition, in the read-out method where gradation processing is performed for electronic image signals obtained by photoelectrically detecting the phosphor light emitted by the sheet, histogram of the image signals is created, and a desired image signal range is determined therefrom.

Abstract: In a radiation image read-out method wherein preliminary read-out is conducted prior to final read-out for adjusting final read-out conditions and/or image processing conditions for a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets carrying a radiation image of the same object recorded thereon by combination image recording, the preliminary read-out and the final read-out are conducted only for the first stimulable phosphor sheet which is first subjected to the image read-out, and only the final read-out is conducted for the other stimulable phosphor sheets by use of the read-out conditions and/or image processing conditions adjusted on the basis of the image input information obtained by the preliminary read-out of the first stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A radiation image recording and read-out apparatus comprises a system for circulating and conveying many stimulable phosphor sheets, a section for recording a radiation image on the stimulable phosphor sheets, a section for scanning the respective stimulable phosphor sheets with stimulating rays and reading out the radiation image stored thereon, and a section for erasing radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheets. The scanning size is adjusted based on a scanning size designation signal. A control section is provided for storing combinations of image recording menus with scanning sizes and sending the scanning size designation signal corresponding to a designated image recording menu to the image read-out section. The image recording section may be provided with a device for adjusting an irradiation field to a region on the stimulable phosphor sheet, where the scanning is conducted, based on the scanning size designation signal.

Abstract: In a method of adjusting read-out conditions for a radiation image stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet by limiting the radiation exposure field, digital image signals at respective positions on the stimulable phosphor sheet for detected on the basis of image information obtained by preliminary read-out. The digital image signals are subjected to a differentiation processing, and the radiation exposure field on the stimulable phosphor sheet is detected by use of the differentiated values obtained thereby. The read-out conditions in final read-out are adjusted on the basis of the image information obtained within the detected radiation exposure field by the preliminary read-out.

Abstract: In a radiation image read-out method and apparatus, final read-out is carried out for detecting image signals for use in reproduction of a visible image from a recording medium carrying a radiation image recorded thereon, and read-out conditions for the final read-out and/or image processing conditions are adjusted based on image signals for condition adjustment detected by reading out the image information recorded on the recording medium. Image signals in a partial region at a predetermined position on the recording medium are extracted from the image signals for condition adjustment, and a representative value of the image signal for the partial region is calculated. A predetermined discrimination value representing a relationship between a characteristic value of the image signals for condition adjustment and the representative value is calculated, and the read-out conditions for the final read-out and/or the image processing conditions are adjusted based on the discrimination value.

Abstract: In order to determine a desired image signal range in image signals carrying an image having an object image portion and a pair of empty image portions separated by the object image portion, the image signals carrying the image are binary-coded into object image portion corresponding signals and empty image portion corresponding signals on the basis of a predetermined threshold value, and a binary-coded image consisting of an object image portion corresponding part carried by the object image portion corresponding signals and two empty image portion corresponding parts carried by the empty image portion corresponding signals and separated by the object image portion corresponding part is formed.

Abstract: In a radiation image read-out apparatus wherein preliminary read-out is ordinarily conucted prior to final read-out for adjusting final read-out conditions and/or image processing conditions for radiation images stored on stimulable phosphor sheets, the preliminary read-out can be omitted and the final read-out and image processing be conducted on the basis of fixed conditions when necessary to obtain reproduced images with the same contrast.

Abstract: In a radiation image read-out method wherein preliminary read-out is conducted prior to final read-out for adjusting final read-out conditions and/or image processing conditions for a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets carrying a radiation image of the same object recorded thereon by combination image recording, the preliminary read-out and the final read-out are conducted only for the first stimulable phosphor sheet which is first subjected to the image read-out, and only the final read-out is conducted for the other stimulable phosphor sheets by use of the read-out conditions and/or image processing conditions adjusted on the basis of the image input information obtained by the preliminary read-out of the first stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: In a method of adjusting read-out conditions for a radiation image stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet by limiting the radiation exposure field, digital image signals at respective positions on the stimulable phosphor sheet are detected on the basis of image information obtained by preliminary read-out. The digital image signals are subjected to a differentiation processing, and the radiation exposure field on the stimulable phosphor sheet is detected by use of the differentiated values obtained thereby. The read-out conditions in final read-out are adjusted on the basis of the image information obtained within the detected radiation exposure field by the preliminary read-out.

Abstract: In a radiation image recording and read-out system, a radiation image is recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet by use of an irradiation field stop for defining an irradiation field. The stimulable phosphor sheet is then exposed to stimulating rays which cause it to emit light in proportion to the radiation energy stored. The emitted light is photoelectrically detected. The radiation image read-out region of the stimulable phosphor sheet is limited within the irradiation field. When preliminary read-out is conducted prior to final read-out by use of stimulating rays having stimulation energy lower than the stimulation energy of stimulating rays used in the final read-out, the radiation image read-out region in the preliminary read-out is limited within the irradiation field.