X-ray Film Analysis (e.g., Radiography) Patents (Class 382/132)
  • Patent number: 9031295
    Abstract: An angiographic method is provided. The method includes: identification of a relevant part in acquired angiography 4D sequences which exhibit a vascular disorder or change; determination of a centerline for the part; ascertainment of lines parallel and surrounding the centerline; specification of perpendicular cross-sections; determination of voxels; ascertainment of bolus curves as a function of time for each voxel; which intersects one of the cross-sections; determination of a time for each voxel; measurement of the true Euclidean distance between voxels at the positions along the centerline and the parallel lines; division of the measured distance by the time difference; determination of second speed components, running transversely, proportional to the relative change in mass for each voxel; and calculation of the blood flow in the relevant part of the vascular system on the basis of the speed components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Klaus Klingenbeck
  • Patent number: 9031303
    Abstract: A method performed by a nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatus includes reconstructing a first image from first measurement data obtained by detecting a pair of radioactive rays emitted from a measurement target; reconstructing a second image from second measurement data obtained by detecting a single radioactive ray emitted from the measurement target; and generating a final image based on the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9030492
    Abstract: A method for overlaying AR objects on an environmental image representing the environment includes recording a depth image of the environment from a point of vision; modifying the representation of an AR object to be placed in the environmental image in terms of how it appears from the point of vision at a pre-defined spot in the environmental image; determining how the parts of the AR object facing the point of vision are arranged in relation to an associated image point of the depth image, from the point of vision; modifying at least the representation of parts of the AR object in a pre-determined manner in relation to the apparent depth in the image; and overlaying the processed AR object on the environmental image. A device for overlaying AR objects on an environmental image displaying the environment operates according to the method steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Bischoff, Arif Kazi
  • Patent number: 9031302
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processing unit configured to generate a processed image by processing a plurality of band limit signals based on a parameter for adjusting the band limit signal, and a control unit configured to control the parameter so that an amplitude response of the processed image with respect to an original image is to be a predetermined value or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Omi
  • Patent number: 9031300
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, an emission tomography scanner may acquire emission scan data. One or more anatomical images may be generated using an anatomical imaging system, and the anatomical images may be processed to obtain an initial attenuation image. An emission image and a corrected attenuation image may be jointly reconstructed from the acquired emission scan data, the corrected attenuation image representing a deformation of the initial attenuation image. A final reconstructed emission image may then be calculated based on the reconstructed emission image and/or the corrected attenuation image. The final reconstructed emission image may then be stored in a data storage system and/or displayed on a display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravindra Mohan Manjeshwar, Sangtae Ahn, Kris Thielemans
  • Publication number: 20150125061
    Abstract: An apparatus reconstructs an image using high energy-based data regarding a scene provides access to first image-capture data regarding the scene that is formed using a first image-capture modality and to second image-capture data that is formed using a second (different) image-capture modality. A control circuit executes an iterative image reconstruction process that establishes a first and a second image-representation channel, a fidelity error measure that measures inconsistency of the image as compared to first image-capture data and second image-capture data, and a prior-penalty term that scores the image based on a priori likelihood or desirability using, at least in part, for each of a plurality of pixels, a non-separable matrix-penalty of a Jacobian-matrix of the image at that pixel, such as nuclear norm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Kevin M. Holt
  • Patent number: 9026193
    Abstract: Hardware and software methodology are described for cardiac health measurement. Hemodynamic waveforms variously acquired for a subject are analyzed to calculate or approximate intrinsic frequencies in two domains in two domains across the Dicrotic Notch. The intrinsic frequencies provide metrics/measures that correlate to the cardiac health of the subject. The systems may be used for monitoring a condition and/or is diagnosis. Exemplary uses include identifying (diagnosing) the presence of arrhythmia, heat failure, atrial fibrillation, aneurysms, vessel stenosis or aortic valve dysfunction and the necessity for valve replacement and/or monitoring congestive heart failure progression, together with identifying the acute need for hospitalization in connection with daily testing for any such condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Niema Pahlevan, Peyman Tavallali, Thomas Yizhao Hou, Morteza Gharib
  • Patent number: 9025849
    Abstract: A 2D or 3D velocity field is reconstructed from a cross-correlation analysis of image pairs of a sample, without first reconstructing images of the sample spatial structure. The method can be implemented via computer tomographic x-ray particle image velocimetry, using multiple projection angles, with phase contrast images forming dynamic speckle patterns. Estimated cross-correlations may be generated via convolution of a measured autocorrelation function with a velocity probability density function, and the velocity coefficients iteratively optimized to minimize the error between the estimated cross-correlations and the measured cross-correlations. The method may be applied to measure blood flow, and the motion of tissue and organs such as heart and lungs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Monash University
    Inventors: Andreas Fouras, Stephen Dubsky
  • Patent number: 9025726
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a differential phase image producing section, a phase unwrapping section, a statistical operation section, and a correction processing section. The differential phase image producing section produces a differential phase image in which pixel values are wrapped into a predetermined range ?. The phase unwrapping section performs a phase unwrapping process to the differential phase image. The statistical operation section obtains a mode from statistical operation of pixel values in each subregion segmented in the unwrapped differential phase image. Each subregion is a unit in which error caused by the phase unwrapping process is to be corrected. The correction processing section calculates, for each pixel, an integer “n” which allows a difference ? between the mode and a pixel value of each pixel to satisfy n???/2??<n?+?/2, and subtracts n·? from each pixel value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Ishii
  • Patent number: 9025842
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for collecting a plurality of medical images. According to one embodiment, a system may include an image acquisition unit to acquire image data, a processing unit to process the image data, a workflow unit to receive a selection of a primary workflow, and an insertion unit to suspend the workflow system. The insertion unit may receive a second selection of a secondary workflow. Upon the completion of the collection of the second plurality of medical images, the workflow unit may resume the collection of the first plurality of medical images. According to certain embodiments, the primary workflow or the secondary workflow may specify an order for collecting a primary and secondary plurality of medical images. Annotations may be added to the plurality of images based on the primary workflow and/or the secondary workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: David Barr, Wayne Ellsworth
  • Publication number: 20150117743
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for reconstructing a panoramic X-ray image. The apparatus includes a storage unit for storing image data of multiple image layers; an image processing unit for determining a reference image layer among the multiple image layers, finding blocks that correspond to at least one block designated in the reference image layer from other image layers, selecting a clearest block by comparing image data of the corresponding blocks, and reconstructing the reference image layer by replacing the designated block in the reference image layer with the clearest block selected in any of the other image layers, if the selected block is not the same as the designated block in the reference image layer; and a display unit for displaying a panoramic image of the reconstructed reference image layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Sung Il Choi
  • Patent number: 9020235
    Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting a diagnostic workflow from a computer system are disclosed herein. In accordance with one implementation, a set of pre-identified anatomical landmarks associated with one or more structures of interest within one or more medical images are presented to a user. In response to a user input selecting at least one or more regions of interest including one or more of the pre-identified anatomical landmarks, the user is automatically navigated to the selected region of interest. In another implementation, a second user input selecting one or more measurement tools is received. An evaluation may be automatically determined based on one or more of the set of anatomical landmarks in response to the second user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Krishnan, Marcos Salganicoff, Xiang Sean Zhou, Venkat Raghavan Ramamurthy, Luca Bogoni, Gerardo Hermosillo Valadez
  • Patent number: 9020232
    Abstract: A system and method that determines a contour of a model vessel representing a branching structure, wherein the structure contains a branch point at which an upper segment of the structure splits into a first lower segment and a second lower segment, and determines a path of a first model vessel representative of at least part of the upper segment and at least part of the first lower segment, determines a path of a second model vessel, representative of at least part of the upper segment and at least part of the second lower segment, determines the position of a contour branch point; and ensures that for at least one position above the contour branch point a contour of the first model vessel is substantially the same as a contour of the second model vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Graham
  • Patent number: 9020220
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus is provided. The X-ray CT apparatus includes an estimation device configured to estimate a feature quantity that relates to one of image quality and a pixel value of an image obtained by performing an X-ray CT scan on a imaging target under a predetermined scan condition, wherein the feature quantity has a correlative relationship with a dose that is based on data obtained from X-ray imaging performed on the imaging target before a main scan, and a calculation device configured to calculate a dose for the imaging target for a case when an X-ray CT scan is performed under a desired setup scan condition, the dose calculated based on the estimated feature quantity and the correlative relationship between feature quantity and dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventor: Masatake Nukui
  • Patent number: 9020236
    Abstract: A method for intraoral imaging obtains a digital image of one or more teeth and detects first and second boundaries. At each of the first and second boundaries, there is calculated a boundary ratio of mean gray-scale values for the tooth area on one side of the boundary to mean gray-scale values for background areas on the other side. The calculated boundary ratios are stored. A third ratio of the mean gray-scale values for the tooth area near the first boundary to the mean gray-scale values for the tooth area near the second boundary is calculated and stored. A vector is formed and stored that contains at least the calculated boundary ratios and the third ratio. The tooth surface is classified as either smooth or occlusal according to the stored vector. The image data is processed according to the classification and processing results are reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Liwei Song, Yingqian Wu, Victor C. Wong, Jiayong Yan
  • Patent number: 9020223
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for non-invasive reproducible determination of a corrected surface on a 3D bone surface model constructed from 3D medical image of a bone having a deformation consisting in a bump overgrowth at the head-neck junction; wherein said corrected surface comprises: i) a 3D spherical corrected surface patch on the head portion of said 3D bone surface model, and ii) a 3D smooth transition corrected surface patch on the neck portion of said 3D bone surface model, contiguous to said 3D spherical corrected surface patch; Said corrected surface patches are defined by a set of parameters comprising: iii) at least one first parameter (a*) representing a spherical extent value of said 3D spherical corrected surface patch, iv) and a set of at least one second parameter, said set determining the 3D correction boundary of said corrected surface patches, such that said corrected surface patches are continuous with said 3D bone surface model along said boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: A2 Surgical
    Inventors: Laurence Chabanas, Stéphane Lavallee, Jerome Tonetti, Thomas Byrd, Bryan Talmadge Kelly, Christopher Larson
  • Patent number: 9020222
    Abstract: An arrangement for computer-assisted structuring of medical examination data is provided. The arrangement has a device for receiving at least one medical examination data record including at least one image data record created with a radiological imaging device, a device for receiving medical video data from external video sources, a device for converting the medical video data into a medical standard format in which a time stamp of the video data generation is stored, a device for storing the converted video data and the at least one examination data record, and a device for outputting the video data and examination data record. The video data and the at least one image data record can be arranged according to their time stamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Wiets
  • Patent number: 9020221
    Abstract: Certain aspects of an apparatus and method for automatic ER/PR scoring of tissue samples may include for determining a cancer diagnosis score comprising identifying a positive stained nucleus in a slide image of the tissue sample, identifying a negative stained nucleus in the slide image, computing a proportion score based on number of the positive stained nucleus identified and number of the negative stained nucleus identified and determining the cancer diagnosis score based on the proportion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Chang Liu, Ximin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150108368
    Abstract: Embodiments of the computer-implemented methods, storage mediums, and systems may be configured to determine locations of particles within a first image of the particles. The particles may have fluorescence-material associated therewith. The embodiments may include calculating a transform parameter, and the transform parameter may define an estimated movement in the locations of the particles between the first image of the particles and a second image of the particles. The embodiments may further including applying the transform parameter to the locations of the particles within the first image to determine movement locations of the particles within the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Matthew S. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20150110380
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus and a computer-readable storage medium are shown. The medical image processing apparatus includes an emphasizing processing unit, a positioning unit, and a difference image generating unit. The emphasizing processing unit performs processing to emphasize a specific structure among structures composing a subject on each of a first image and a second image obtained by capturing the same subject at different points in time. The positioning unit matches a position of the specific structure in the first image and the second image based on the first image and the second image with the specific structure emphasized. The difference image generating unit generates a difference image between the first image and the second image with the position of the specific structure matched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150110246
    Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes a receiver for receiving a first image acquired by photographing scattered radiation of X-rays existing in a closed space and a second image acquired by photographing the closed space; and an image processor for generating a third image by combining the first image and the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qin LIU, Eung-bum KIM
  • Publication number: 20150110379
    Abstract: A method of reducing motion blurring in digital radiography includes capturing at least one temporally coded blurred image of an object generated by using a coded pattern, and generating a de-blurred image from the at least one temporally coded blurred image by using the coded pattern and an estimate of a motion vector of the object. The at least one temporally coded blurred image is captured by using a total amount of generated light corresponding to at least a portion of radiation transmitted by the object. A digital radiography system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Varun Akur Venkatesan, Siraj Issani, Chhaya Methani, Vishal Prabhu
  • Patent number: 9014423
    Abstract: A method and system for adaptive discriminant learning and measurement fusion for image based catheter tracking is disclosed. An adaptive discriminant model is trained online based on a tracked object, such as a pigtail catheter tip, in at least one previous frame of a fluoroscopic image sequence. The object is tracked in the current frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence based at least on the adaptive discriminant model trained online. The object may be tracked in the current frame based on a fusion of three types of measurement models including the adaptive discriminant model trained online, an object detection model trained offline, and an online appearance model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peng Wang, Yefeng Zheng, Matthias John, Jan Boese, Gareth Funka-Lea, Dorin Comaniciu
  • Patent number: 9014442
    Abstract: In a method or apparatus for identifying a region of interest in a medical image of a subject, at least one local maximum region of the image is determined for which a value of a given variable is a local maximum value. A user-selection of an initial voxel in the image is registered. As the region of interest, a connected set of voxels for which values of the given variable are greater than a threshold is selected, the selected set of voxels comprising a first local maximum region at a distance from the user-selected voxel, and the threshold being a given fraction of the local maximum value of the first local maximum region in the set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew David Kelly, Kinda Anna Saddi
  • Patent number: 9014455
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an X-ray imaging apparatus and an X-ray image generating method in which constituent materials of a target object are separated and mapped to different colors in order to provide one image which has improved distinction between tissues. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generator which generates X-rays and irradiates the X-rays toward a target object, an X-ray detector which acquires X-ray data which corresponds to a plurality of energy bands by detecting X-rays which have passed through the target object, and a controller which acquires a plurality of material images in which a plurality of materials constituting the target object are respectively displayed and brightness information from the X-ray data, generates one image by mapping different color channels to the plurality of material images and combining the plurality material images into a single image, and applying the brightness information to the generated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsung Life Public Welfare Foundation
    Inventors: Hyun-Hwa Oh, Kang-Eui Lee, Seo-Young Choi, Young-Hun Sung, Myung-Jin Chung
  • Patent number: 9014447
    Abstract: A system and method for characterizing a point in a three-dimensional digital medical image includes determining third order derivatives of the three-dimensional digital medical image at one or more points in the three-dimensional digital medical image. At each of the one or more points, one or more invariant or semi-invariant features that characterize a local geometry at the point is determined using the third order derivatives of the three-dimensional digital medical image. The invariant or semi-invariant features are used for automatic detection of lesions, abnormalities, and other anatomical structures of interest in the three-dimensional digital medical image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory Gibran Slabaugh, Muhammad Musib Siddique, Richard Graham Boyes, Abdel Douiri, Xujiong Ye
  • Patent number: 9014454
    Abstract: A radiation-treatment planning apparatus accesses first information regarding a first image that pertains to a patient's body at a first time as well as second information regarding a second image that pertains to the patient's body at a second, later time. The radiation-treatment planning apparatus then correlates components of the patient's body as appear in the second image with components that appear in the first image while treating the components as comprising rigid structures regardless of whether those components, in fact, are rigid structures. The first information can include segmentation information as pertains to the components. These teachings will accommodate a wide range of components including, but not limited to, organs, portions of organs, and even implanted man-made objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Corey E. Zankowski
  • Patent number: 9002084
    Abstract: A system includes a detector and a processing module. The detector includes pixels configured to detect an event corresponding to energy from a radiopharmaceutical. The processing module is configured to receive a request for each pixel that detects energy during a reading cycle. The processing module is configured to determine an energy level for each requesting pixel. For each requesting pixel, the processing module is configured to count the event when the energy level corresponds to an energy of the radiopharmaceutical, and to determine a combined energy level of the pixel and at least one adjacent pixel when the energy level does not correspond. The processing module is configured to count the event when the combined energy level corresponds to the energy of the radiopharmaceutical, and to disregard the event when the combined energy level does not correspond to the energy of the radiopharmaceutical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Israel, Ltd
    Inventors: Arie Shahar, Eliezer Traub, Peter Rusian, Yaron Glazer, Danny Magal, Zeev Gerber
  • Patent number: 9001972
    Abstract: A radiation image detection apparatus, includes: a control unit configured to drive an imaging unit so that a radiation image data is acquired, an image receiving unit is reset after acquiring the radiation image data, and a dark image data is acquired; in which: the control unit changes at least one of a reset time of the image receiving unit and a reduction ratio of an reduced image data on the basis of the communication speed by such that the transmission of the reduced image data is completed at least prior to reading-out an electrical charge signal from the image receiving unit when acquiring the dark image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yasufumi Takahashi, Makoto Sugizaki, Naoto Iwakiri
  • Patent number: 9001967
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining a phase-contrast digital radiographic imaging system and methods for same that can include an x-ray source for radiographic imaging; a beam shaping assembly including a collimator and a source grating, an x-ray grating interferometer including a phase grating, and an analyzer grating; and an x-ray detector, where a single arrangement of the beam shaping assembly, the x-ray grating interferometer and a position of the detector is configured to provide spectral information (e.g. at least two images obtained at different relative beam energies).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavlo Baturin, Mark E. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20150093011
    Abstract: An image processing method includes: obtaining an image that includes a ball image and a cone image; obtaining an estimate of a center of the ball image; converting the image to a converted image using a processor based at least in part on the estimate of the center of the ball image, wherein the converted image comprises a converted ball image that looks different from the ball image in the image, and a converted cone image that looks different from the cone image in the image; identifying the converted ball image in the converted image; and analyzing the converted ball image to determine a score that represents an accuracy of the estimate of the center of the ball image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Gaudio
  • Publication number: 20150093012
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for generating a seed plan for use in radiation therapy. The system includes an image database, the image database comprising image slices and a seed template database comprising seed templates. A contour engine is configured to generate target contour data to identify one or more objects within each image slice. A reslicer engine is configured to rotate the contoured image about an angle of rotation to produce a resliced contoured image, such that the resliced contoured image is resampled at an angle perpendicular to the angle of rotation and intersecting an isocenter. The system also includes a seed grid engine configured to generate a seed grid perpendicular to the angle of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: MIM SOFTWARE
    Inventor: Jonathan William Piper
  • Publication number: 20150093013
    Abstract: A composition information obtaining unit calculates a mammary gland/fat ratio and a first information obtaining unit obtains imaged contrast information representing a contrast of the radiation image. A second information obtaining unit sets target application condition of X-ray, and obtains target contrast information representing an intended contrast for the radiation image based on the intended application condition. A contrast correction amount determination unit determines a contrast correction amount based on the imaged contrast information and the target contrast information. An image processing unit performs image processing, including gradation processing based on the determined contrast correction amount, on the radiation image, and obtains a processed radiation image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junya MORITA
  • Patent number: 8994747
    Abstract: Disclosed are computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer program products for displaying superimposed image contours. A first centroid or center-of-mass of a contour extracted from a first image that depicts a moving object as the object appeared at a first time is calculated. A second centroid or center-of-mass of a second contour extracted from a second image that depicts the object as the object appeared at a second time is also calculated. The second image depicts the object in substantially the same plane as the first image. The first and second contours are displayed with the respective first and second centroids or centers-of-mass positioned at a common location. In some implementations, the images are ultrasound images depicting, for example, a human heart. The images can be transgastric short axis views of the human heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Imacor Inc.
    Inventor: Nicolas Heron
  • Publication number: 20150085975
    Abstract: An X-ray generation unit irradiates a subject with X rays. The X-ray detection unit detects the X rays. An image data generation/processing unit generates data of an original image based on output from the X-ray detection unit, and generates a first image data and a second image data based on the data of the original image. A display unit displays one of the first image and the second image as a right-eye image and the other as the left-eye image. One image of the first image and the second image has, when compared with the other image, a high resolution concerning at least one resolution of a plurality of resolutions of different kinds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hisanori KATO, Takayuki Tomisaki, Naoya Fujita
  • Patent number: 8989487
    Abstract: Provided are an image composition apparatus for composing color images with black-and-white images including infrared components, and an image composition method thereof. The image composition method includes generating a first image signal with color information and a second image signal including infrared components without color information, dividing the first image signal into a brightness signal and a color signal, composing the brightness signal of the first image signal with a brightness signal of the second image signal to generate a composed brightness signal, and composing the composed brightness signal with the color signal of the first image signal to generate a color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-hee Choe, Jae-hyun Kwon, Seong-deok Lee
  • Patent number: 8989474
    Abstract: Disclosed in an x-ray imaging device, which uses a Talbot-Lau interferometer, eliminates the effects on image quality of a reconstructed image that arises in such cases as when the direction of a multi-slit or each lattice slit is altered and imaging is performed, and provides reconstructed images favorable for diagnosis. When a plurality of moire images imaged with an imaging subject loaded onto a imaging subject stand (13) and a plurality of moire images imaged without the imaging subject are input, a control unit (51) of a controller (5) corrects signal value differences arising from variations in x-ray strength during imaging respectively between the plurality of moire images with the imaging subject and between the plurality of moire images without the imaging subject, and respectively creates a reconstructed image with the imaging subject and a reconstructed image without the imaging subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kido, Chiho Makifuchi, Junko Kiyohara
  • Patent number: 8989514
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes identifying a plurality of data sets, each data set is associated with a distribution model and each data set is associated with an image having a first noise level. The method includes partitioning the data sets into a plurality of groups and generating a best representative estimate for each group, the estimate is associated with a second noise level that is less than the first noise level. The method further includes annotating each group and receiving an input data set. The method includes assigning the input data set to a group and annotating the input data set according to that group's annotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Voxeleron LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Russakoff, Jonathan Oakley
  • Patent number: 8989473
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnosis apparatus displays X-ray moving images by irradiating a subject with X-rays and detecting X-rays that have penetrated the subject, and includes a selection mechanism and a display. The selection mechanism selects images of high importance from among the X-ray moving images based on working-state information related to the working state of the operator performing surgery on the subject. The display list displays the selected images as thumbnails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Kyojiro Nambu
  • Patent number: 8989461
    Abstract: A method (100) that provides image processing of X-ray images that is particularly effective for the alignment of stent images and that, ultimately, provides stent image quality enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ying Zhu, Liping Zhou
  • Patent number: 8989347
    Abstract: A phase retrieval method for differential phase contrast imaging includes receiving data corresponding to a differential phase image generated from a measured signal. The measured signal corresponds to an X-ray signal detected by a detector after passing through a subject located with a grating arrangement between an X-ray source and the detector. The method further includes generating a phase image corresponding to the integration of the differential phase image. Generating the phase image includes performing an iterative total variation regularized integration in the Fourier domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Immanuel Sperl, Dirk Wim Jos Beque
  • Publication number: 20150078647
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of implant detection includes receiving a three-dimensional (3D) image of an anatomy portion of a patient from computed tomography (CT) projections of the patient in an image processing computing system. A cluster of voxels forming an implant candidate is identified on a CT slice of the 3D image and the identified implant candidate is compared with artifacts of implants from an implant database stored in a memory of the computing system. A best-fit implant is selected from the implant database and a graphical image of the best-fit implant is overlaid on the CT slice on a display of the computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Patrick A. HELM, Shuanghe SHI
  • Patent number: 8983029
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method corrects line deficiency in radiographic systems. A Fourier transform element provides a one-dimensional Fourier transform on a line orthogonal to a line of a moire patterns appearing in an X-ray image during a use. A peak frequency detection element detects the peak frequency indicating the spatial frequency of the moire pattern on the basis of the results of one-dimensional Fourier transform. The detected peak frequency is transformed to a number of pixels in 1 cycle of the moire pattern by a pixel cycle conversion element. The line deficiency correction element obtains pixels of the same phase as the line deficiency pixel in the moire pattern from the number of pixels, and then corrects the line deficiency pixel by using the pixel value thereof. Since the number of pixels in 1-cycle is acquired from the moire pattern in the X-ray image, the line deficiency can be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8983162
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconstructing an image by generating a scatter-corrected sinogram are provided. In the reconstructed image in which initial scattering is not corrected, an emission position of a photon is determined. A graphics processing unit (GPU) calculates migration of the photon using a Monte-Carlo simulation. A 3-dimensional (3D) line of response (LoR) may be calculated through a position in which the photon reaches a detector. The calculated LoR may be converted into a 3D sinogram form and stored in a prompt sinogram and a scatter-corrected sinogram. A final scatter-corrected sinogram may be generated by adjusting a scale of the scatter-corrected sinogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jong Chul Ye, Kyung Sang Kim
  • Patent number: 8979773
    Abstract: There is provided a method of calculating an index for deciding the necessity of surgically operating on the jaw in orthodontic treatment wherein an index for deciding the necessity of surgically operating on the jaw which becomes objective materials for a dentist to decide the necessity of surgically operating on the jaw of a patient in orthodontic treatment of the patient can be calculated easily, and by appropriately combining the results of other inspection methods, the dentist is able to diagnose easily with high objectivity and correctness, moreover with a short period of time, and its program. Using the distance (S?A) between S and A, the distance (S?Xi) between S and Xi (i is an integer from 1 to 4. X1=B, X2=Pog, X3=Gn and X4=Me.) and the distance (Go?Xj) between Go and Xj (j is an integer from 1 to 4. j=i or j?i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cephmedical Corporation
    Inventor: Daiki Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 8983165
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter describes a novel technique to measure the beam profile using an area detector. In one embodiment, a set of one-dimensional beam profile measurements is performed by taking two images under the same source conditions but at two different positions of the detector, with each position of the detector shifted by a certain distance in the direction corresponding to the direction of the one-dimensional profile measurement. In further embodiments, a set of two-dimensional beam profile measurements is achieved by determining a second set of one-dimensional profiles from the same sampling points in a second direction and building a two-dimensional map of the beam profile by correlating the first one-dimensional profile measurement with the second one-dimensional profile measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingshan Sun, Josh Star-Lack, Gary Virshup, Daniel Morf, Stefan Jochem Thieme-Marti
  • Publication number: 20150071520
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnosis apparatus includes: a reference value calculating unit that calculates a reference value used for normalizing a flow of a contrast material, on the basis of a chronological transition of a signal intensity of the contrast material in a predetermined region, for each of a plurality of groups of X-ray images chronologically taken while using the contrast material; an index image generating unit that normalizes, for each of the plurality of groups of X-ray images, the flow of the contrast material at each of pixels by using the reference value calculated by the reference value calculating unit and that generates an image in which a feature value of the normalized flow of the contrast material is reflected in each of the pixels; and a displayed image calculating unit that causes a predetermined display unit to display the image generated by the index image generating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hisato TAKEMOTO, Takuya SAKAGUCHI, Yiemeng HOI
  • Publication number: 20150071406
    Abstract: To provide a method for controlling an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus and an X-ray generation device equipped with an ABS system tracking movement of an object position without an operator performing setting operation for a region of interest (ROI), the determination condition storage unit (6i) storing ROI position determination conditions in which image statistical information is used for defining conditions to determine a position of an ROI in an X-ray image out of plural blocks generated by dividing the X-ray image into plural regions, the first block statistical information calculation unit (6f) calculating the image statistical information for each of plural blocks, and the region-of-interest position selection unit (6g) selecting a block that serves as an ROI from among plural blocks using the ROI position determination conditions and the image statistical information of each block are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Konosuke Temmei, Yuji Sakai, Tadashi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150071521
    Abstract: An image analysis embodiment comprises generating a bulge mask from a digital image, the bulge mask comprising potential convergence hubs for spiculated anomalies, detecting ridges in the digital image to generate a detected ridges map, projecting the detected ridges map onto a set of direction maps having different directional vectors to generate a set of ridge direction projection maps, determining wedge features for the potential convergence hubs from the set of ridge direction projection maps, selecting ridge convergence hubs from the potential convergence hubs having strongest wedge features, extracting classification features for each of the selected ridge convergence hubs, and classifying the selected ridge convergence hubs based on the extracted classification features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Wehnes, David S. Harding
  • Patent number: 8976190
    Abstract: The invention provides, in some aspects, a system for implementing a rule derived basis to display image sets. In various embodiments of the invention, the selection of the images to be displayed, the layout of the images, as well as the rendering parameters and styles can be determined using a rule derived basis. In an embodiment of the present invention, the user is presented with images displayed based on their preferences without having to first manually adjust parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: PME IP Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Malte Westerhoff, Detlev Stalling