Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Philips Medical Systems, Inc.

Kazuhiro Hishinuma

Tsutomu Kimura

Hisashi Shiraishi

Hiroshi Tanaka

Hideya Takeo

Takefumi Nagata

Nobuyoshi Nakajima

Kazuo Shimura

Shoji Hara

Takeshi Funahashi

Akihiro Ohga

Masamitsu Ishida

Yuichi Fuseda

James T Karam, Jr

Misashi Shiraishi

An image filing apparatus comprises an irreversible signal compression device for carrying out irreversible signal compression processing on an original image signal, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing an original image, and thereby generating an irreversibly compressed image signal. The irreversibly compressed image signal is stored on a first storage device. A difference operation device subtracts the image signal components of the original image signal and the irreversibly compressed image signal from each other which represent corresponding picture elements in the original image and the image represented by the irreversibly compressed image signal. A difference image signal is thereby generated which represents a difference image corresponding to the differences between the original image signal and the irreversibly compressed image signal. A reversible signal compression device carries out reversible signal compression processing on the difference image signal and thereby generates a reversibly compressed difference image signal. The reversibly compressed difference image signal is stored on a second storage device, on which information can be rewritten.

Image filing apparatus using both reversible and irreversible compression

A method for adjusting conditions comprises the steps of, when a radiation image of a specific object is recorded and read out, investigating whether recording and read-out operations were or were not carried out in the past for the same object as the specific object. When recording and read-out operations were carried out in the past for the same object as the specific object, image recording conditions for the specific object are adjusted such that they coincide with those under which the recording operation was carried out for the same object as the specific object. Also, instead of read-out conditions for a final readout, which is to be carried out for the specific object, being adjusted on the basis of a preliminary read-out image signal representing the radiation image of the specific object, the read-out conditions for the final readout to be carried out for the specific object are adjusted such that they coincide with those under which the final readout was carried out from the radiation image of the same object as the specific object. Recording and read-out operations for the specific object are carried out under the conditions, which have thus been adjusted.

Method for adjusting conditions in radiation image recording, readout,

A medical image displaying apparatus is provided with a display device, which reproduces a visible image from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a medical image, and which displays the visible image. A conversion device receives a plurality of primary image signal components representing a medical image, each of the primary image signal components being composed of n bits, and converts them into a plurality of secondary image signal components representing an image with a desired gradation and having been compensated for gradation characteristics of the display device. Each of the secondary image signal components is composed of n+k bits, where k&gt;0. The display device reproduces a visible image from the plurality of the secondary image signal components and displays it.

Medical image displaying apparatus

In a radiation image processing apparatus, signal processing for determining the shape and location of an irradiation field, adjusting read-out conditions for a final readout from a preliminary read-out image signal, adjusting image processing conditions, and/or detecting an abnormal pattern is carried out on an image signal representing a radiation image by using a neural network. After the neural network, the learning operations of which have been carried out, is incorporated into the radiation image processing apparatus, modifying information is entered from an input device into the neural network. The modifying information is used to modify the signal processing carried out by the neural network and thereby to carry out re-learning operations of the neural network.

Radiation image processing apparatus, determination apparatus, and

In a radiation image processing method, unsharp mask signals Sus.k are calculated by averaging original image signals detected within predetermined ranges surrounding each scanning point on an image-recorded stimulable phosphor, and at least a single attenuation coefficient .beta.l among attenuation coefficients .beta.k corresponding to the unsharp mask signals Sus.k is adjusted to be a constant within the range of 0&lt;.beta.l wherein .beta.l.noteq.1. An operation represented by a formula ##EQU1## where Sb1 and Sb2 each denote the original image signal or an image signal obtained by intermediate processing of the original image signal, and S' denotes an image signal obtained by the operation processing is carried out by use of the attenuation coefficient .beta.l, whereby spatial frequency components above the spatial frequency component which the unsharp mask signal Sus.l corresponding to the attenuation coefficient .beta.l has are attenuated.

Method and apparatus for radiation image processing and x-ray image

A radiation image recording and reproducing system comprises a recording section, a read-out section, a reproducing section, and a signal format converting section. The signal format converting section comprises a first buffer memory for storing the ID information giving specifics about a radiation image, which ID information is received from an external apparatus and has a first signal format, and a second buffer memory for storing the ID information, which has a second signal format adapted to the radiation image recording and reproducing system and into which the ID information having the first signal format was converted. A conversion table memory stores a conversion table. An operation device reads the ID information having the first signal format from the first buffer memory, converts the ID information, which has the first signal format and has been read out of the first buffer memory, into the ID information having the second signal format in accordance with the conversion table, and thereafter stores the ID information, which has the second signal format and has been generated during the conversion, in the second buffer memory.

Radiation image recording and reproducing system

An image signal representing radiation images is detected from a recording medium on which the radiation images have been recorded in a subdivision pattern. The whole image recording area of the recording medium is divided into four regions which have the same shape and the same size and which are vertically and horizontally adjacent to one another. Calculations are made from the image signal in order to find characteristic amounts which represent resemblances in image between the divided regions which are vertically adjacent to each other and between the divided regions which are horizontally adjacent to each other. The subdivision pattern of the radiation images is determined by judging that the divided regions which are found as resembling each other in image are the subdivisions into which the whole recording area of the recording medium was divided when the radiation images were recorded thereon.

Method for determining subdivision patterns of radiation images

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a preliminary read-out device, a final read-out device, an image processor, and a condition adjuster. The condition adjuster comprises an operating device for determining the read-out conditions for the final readout and/or the image processing conditions and feeding the information about them into the final read-out device and/or the image processor. From a first input device, information about a mode selected from among several modes of adjusting the read-out conditions and/or the image processing conditions is fed into the operating device. In cases where a region selecting mode is designated, an image represented by a preliminary read-out image signal is displayed. From a second input device, information about a region on a stimulable phosphor sheet, for which the read-out conditions and/or the image processing conditions are to be set, information a desired reproduced image density, and information about a desired image signal range are fed into the operating device.

Radiation image read-out apparatus and method for operating the same

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a preliminary read-out device, a final read-out device, an image processor, and a condition adjuster. The condition adjuster is constituted of first and second operating sections for calculating, from a preliminary read-out image signal, a first read-out condition and/or a first image processing condition, and a second read-out condition and/or a second image processing condition. Both the first and second conditions are displayed for evaluation of the reliability thereof. A change-over section selects a mode wherein the first read-out condition is fed into the final read-out device and/or the first image processing condition is fed into the image processor, and a mode wherein the second read-out condition is fed into the final read-out device and/or the second image processing condition is fed into the image processor.

Radiation image read-out apparatus

In a system for displaying a radiation image by scanning a recording medium carrying a radiation image stored thereon and converting the image into an electrical signal, an unsharp mask signal Sus corresponding to a super-low frequency at each scanning point is detected, and an operation, expressed as S'=Sorg+.beta.(Sorg-Sus) where Sorg denotes an original image signal detected from the recording medium and .beta. denotes an emphasis coefficient, is conducted to perform an unsharp masking process for emphasizing frequency components above the super-low frequency. The unsharp mask signal Sus and/or the emphasis coefficient .beta. is continuously changed to display the image as a moving image. The unsharp mask signal Sus is changed by calculating a basic unsharp mask signal Sus for a basic unsharp mask at a predetermined scanning point, and calculating a different unsharp mask signal Sus at the predetermined scanning point by simple arithmetic averaging of the basic unsharp mask signals Sus for basis unsharp masks surrounding the basic unsharp mask.

Method and apparatus for displaying radiation image, and method and

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a system for emitting stimulating rays to a stimulable phosphor sheet carrying a radiation image of an object stored thereon by exposure to a radiation passing through the object, a photodetector for detecting light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet when it is exposed to stimulating rays, an amplifier for amplifying a read-out image signal generated by the photodectector, and A/D converter for digitizing the output of the amplifier, and a predictor for predicting the scattered radiation amount stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet. An operation circuit is positioned between the amplifier and the photodetector for subtracting a signal component representing the scattered radiation amount from the read-out image signal on the basis of the scattered radiation amount predicted by the scattered radiation amount predictor. An expander is positioned between the operation circuit and the amplifier for adjusting an image signal generated by the operation circuit to a predetermined level.

A signal processing method in autoradiography for determination of the base sequence of DNA or a DNA fragment, employing groups of radioactively labeled base specific cleavage products or mixtures thereof obtained by specifically cleaving the DNA or DNA fragment labeled with a radioactive element and resolved one-dimensionally in parallel relation to each other to form resolved rows on a support medium. An autograph is obtained having locational information on groups of radioactively labeled cleavage products contained in the rows on the support medium. An electrical digital signal corresponding to the autoradiograph are generated by recording and reproducing a radiation image stored in a stimulable phosphor sheet. Sampling points in each resolved row of the digital signal are next detected. Reference sampling points are then determined in a plurality of reference rows which are either directly provided on the support medium and/or synthesized from certain resolved rows. Corresponding reference sampling points in the plural reference rows are joined to generate plural continuous lines comprising straight lines, polygonal lines or curved lines. Sampling points in the remaining non-reference rows are identified by comparison with the continuous lines to thus determine the base sequence of the DNA or DNA fragment.

Signal processing method in autoradiography

A signal detecting method in autoradiography, which is applied to an autoradiograph having locational information on radioactively labeled substances such as radioactively labeled biopolymers distributed one-dimensionally, being recorded on a radiosensitive material as a visible image,

Signal detecting method in autoradiography

A signal processing method in autoradiography for determining base sequence of DNA or DNA fragment, employing groups of base-specific synthetic products which are complementary to the DNA or DNA fragment and a labeled with a radioactive element, said groups being resolved one-dimensionally in parallel relation to each other to form resolved rows on a support medium,

A signal processing method in autoradiography for determination of the base sequence of DNA or a DNA fragment, employing groups of radioactively labeled base specific cleavage products or mixtures thereof obtained by specifically cleaving the DNA or DNA fragment labeled with a radioactive element and resolved one-dimensionally in parallel relation to each other to form resolved rows on a support medium. An autograph is obtained having locational information on groups of radioactively labeled cleavage products contained in the rows on the support medium. An electrical digital signal corresponding to the autoradiograph is then generated. Sampling points in each resolved row of the digital signal are next detected. Reference sampling points are then determined in a plurality of reference rows which are either directly provided on resolved row adjacent to the reference row to identify sampling points in adjacent resolved rows. Sampling points in the remaining non-reference rows are identified for determination of the base sequence of the DNA or DNA fragment.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Kazuhiro Hishinuma