Shimadzu Corporation

Shimadzu Coproation

Hisanori Morita

Shiro Oikawa

Ryo Takeda

Kimihiro Takahama

According to the aspect of the present invention, an image processing device capable of absolutely removing noises in each frame forming a live image can be provided. Specifically, according to the aspect of the present invention, a target block T can be set in the original image Iand it is searched out where such target block T is imaged in the superimposition target image O. According to the aspect of the present invention, a tracking of the subject image is executed per block, so that reliability thereof can be extraordinarily improved compared to the conventional method searching the destination every individual pixel.

Image-processing device

With the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus capable of reliably removing noise, even for a live image having a poor S/N ratio. The present invention has a configuration to search for where, on a frame F, a target block BT is reflected. When superimposing the frame Fand a frame F, the target block BT, which is a fragment of the frame F, and a plurality of blocks to be superimposed, which is a fragment of the frame Fare set, and if, from fusion blocks BF generated by superimposing the target block BT on each of the blocks to be superimposed BR, a selection block BS is selected wherein superimposed subject images most reinforce one another, it is possible to reliably suppress duplication of the subject images.

Image processing device

This image processing device operates by identifying a region that is in a similar image and has a pattern which is the same as a pattern appearing in a section of a reference image, and repeating an operation several times and the section and the region are superposed to generate a reduced-noise fragment, after which the reduced-noise fragments obtained for all of the regions of the reference image are combined to generate a reduced-noise image. When such an operation actually is attempted with an image processing device the regions corresponding to the sections in the reference image cannot be found from the similar image. Therefore, with the present invention the reduced-noise fragments are generated by performing spatial processing on the sections. Thus, reduced-noise fragments can be obtained reliably for all of the regions of the reference image, and noise can be removed from the reference image more reliably.

A radiographic apparatus includes a radiation source for emitting radiation, a radiation source control unit for instructing the radiation source to emit the radiation, and a radiation detector for detecting the radiation. The radiation detector outputs real-time detection data when the radiation source emits the radiation intermittently or continuously, and outputs quiescence detection data when the radiation source emits still radiation. The quiescence detection data is acquired by the radiation source control unit controlling the radiation source to start emitting the radiation at a time earlier than a predicted point of time by a predetermined time calculated based on an estimated irradiation time.

Radiographic apparatus

A radiographic apparatus according to this invention includes a back projection arithmetic processing unit which, when carrying out a back projection arithmetic process on projection data detected by a flat panel X-ray detector (FPD)to reconstruct a sectional image, reconstructs the image using data R derived from an addition average according to a width L (of a range at which X rays for a thickness w arrive) determined by a point P, which is a reconstruction position, and a projection angle &#x3b8;. Thus, image blurring due to the reconstruction position and projection angle &#x3b8; can be reduced.

Radiographic apparatus and arithmetic processing program

A reconstruction process for processing pixel data for tomographic volume image data uses a concise reconstruction algorithm based on an assumption that an axis of X-ray emission axis always exists on a plane orthogonal to an axis of revolution of an X-ray tube and an FPD. In time of the reconstruction process, a corrected parameter is applied to the reconstruction algorithm for correcting a mechanical displacement occurring between the axis of revolution of the X-ray tube and FPD and the axis of X-ray emission. Thus, errors due to the mechanical displacement may be avoided by a simple data processing of setting the corrected parameter to the reconstruction algorithm, without impairing lightness of a data processing load on the reconstruction algorithm.

An FPD has a detecting plane with detecting elements arranged in rows (u-axis) and columns (v-axis) extending in two intersecting axial directions. In time of primary scanning, the FPD is moved about a sectional axis to maintain the u-axis parallel to a body axis constantly. Consequently, in a reconstruction process, a set of projection points on the detecting plane of X rays having passed through lattice points in one row along the body axis A of an imaginary three-dimensional lattice, is parallel to the u-axis. It is therefore possible to derive all projection data that should be projected back to the lattice points in one row, only from detection signals acquired from the detecting elements in two lines having the set of projection points in between. Thus, the quantity of detection signals required for obtaining the projection data is reduced to perform the reconstruction process at high speed.

Projection images of a calibration phantom are picked up and stored. Three-dimensional position information on an X-ray tube and an area detector is obtained from the projection images and three-dimensional arrangement information on markers inside the calibration phantom. Three-dimensional position information is obtained for all projection images, and stored in a three-dimensional position information storage unit. Projection images of an object under examination are picked up by following the same tracks and the same sequence as when radiographing the calibration phantom. Radiographic data of the projection images is read. A reconstructing calculation is carried out for the object based on the three-dimensional position information on the X-ray tube and area detector relative to the calibration phantom, to create slice images or three-dimensional volume data of a selected site of the object.

Slice image and/or dimensional image creating method

A tomography device for imaging a body has a first imaging member, a second imaging member, and an imaging condition setting member for setting imaging conditions based on a superimposition of an effective tomographic image range and an image obtained using the second imaging member. The first imaging member includes a radiation source for radiating an electromagnetic wave at the body, a detecting member for detecting the electromagnetic wave radiated at and transmitted through the body, and a scanning member for applying scanning motion to the radiation source and the detecting member. The second imaging member obtains a body image from a direction different from a radiation direction from the radiation source to the detecting member used for imaging the body. The tomographic image range is determined based on a scanning range of the scanning member associated with the radiation source and the detecting member.

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Kyoto, Japan

Hisanori Morita