Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Yuuma Adachi

Nobuyoshi Nakajima

Masamitsu Ishida

Kazuo Shimura

Wataru Ito

Toshitaka Agano

Hiroshi Tanaka

Shoji Hara

Makoto Hara

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.

Abnormnal pattern detecting or judging apparatus, circular pattern

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.

Method for compressing and extending image signals

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. Binary images are formed repeatedly with the threshold value being changed sequentially so that the two area forming the region approximately corresponding to the background region expand until they meet each other. The desired image signal range is determined from the image signal components corresponding to the picture elements located in the regions approximately corresponding to the background region, which is formed when the two areas become connected to each other.

Method for determining a desired image signal range from an image having

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.

Method and apparatus for enlarging or reducing images

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a read-out component, an image processing component, and a menu item display and selection component. The menu item display and selection component are constituted of a storage section for storing menu items and corresponding read-out conditions, an object portion designation section for designating the portion of the object whose image is to be read out, an image recording method designation section for designating the image recording method by which the image was recorded, a mode selection section for selecting one menu from among a plurality of menus constituted by classifying a large number of menu items which have once been classified with respect to all possible combinations of object portion and image recording condition, a display section for displaying the menu items, a selection section for selecting a displayed menu item, and a processing section for reading from the storage section menu items relating to the designated object portion and image recording method and forwarding the read-out menu items to the display section, reading menu items from the storage section and forwarding them to the display, and forwarding to the read-out component the read-out condition correponding to the required item.

Radiation image read-out apparatus using menu

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.

Radiation image read-out, processing and reproducing methods

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. In adjusting image processing conditions, image information obtained by exposing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the stored radiation and photoelectrically detecting the emitted light 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 portion surrounded by the backgroud portion is selected from the obtained image information. The image processing conditions for use in an image processing of the radiation image information are adjusted on the basis of the selected image information.

Method of adjusting radiation image read-out conditions and image

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. A cummulative histogram then is created, the desired range is corrected based on a characteristic value of the cumulative histogram, and gradation processing conditions are adjusted so that the corrected desired signal range corresponds to a predetermined electronic signal range. Alternatively, a standard signal range is determined based on the characteristic value, and gradation processing conditions are adjusted so that the standard range corresponds to a predetermined electronic signal range.

Radiation image read-out method

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.

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.

Recording and read-out apparatus

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.

Method of adjusting radiation image read-out conditions

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. The binary-coding step and the binary-coded image forming step are repeated while the value of the predetermined threshold is gradually lowered until the two empty image portion corresponding parts are united into a united empty image portion corresponding part, and the desired image signal range is determined on the basis of the image signals carrying the picture elements included in the united empty image portion corresponding part at the time the two empty image portion corresponding parts are united.

Method of determining desired image signal range

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.

Radiation image read-out method and apparatus

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.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Yuuma Adachi