IP Library Granted Patent US 8,306,606
Granted Patent B2
US 8,306,606 · App. 12/363,060 · Granted Nov 6, 2012

Medical imaging apparatus, ultrasonic imaging apparatus, magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, medical image processing apparatus, and medical image processing method

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,306,606
App. No.
12/363,060
Granted
Nov 6, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A differential-image creating unit creates a three-dimensional image on which an artery is highlighted and a three-dimensional image on which a tumor is highlighted. An image compositing unit combines the three-dimensional images to composite an image. A display control unit displays the composite image on a monitor. Moreover, when compositing an image, the image compositing unit composites the image such that a tumor nutrient blood-flow inside and outside tumor is to be displayed in respective different colors. Furthermore, a blood-flow quantity inside tumor measuring unit calculates a blood-flow quantity inside tumor and a ratio of the blood-flow quantity inside tumor to a tumor volume, and the display control unit displays the blood-flow quantity inside tumor and the ratio of the blood-flow quantity inside tumor to the tumor volume. Accordingly, information that is meaningful for determining malignancy of a tumor can be provided.

Claims (25)

1. A medical imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging-data collecting unit that collects imaging data by imaging a subject to whom a contrast medium is injected;

a first image creating unit that creates a first image on which an artery blood flow is highlighted, based on imaging data in an artery phase from which artery blood-flow dynamic states can be observed;

a second image creating unit that creates a second image on which a tumor is highlighted, based on imaging data in a late phase which is a time phase that appears after the artery phase from which presence of a tumor can be determined;

an image compositing unit that creates a third image by combining the first image and the second image; and

an image display unit that displays the third image composited by the image compositing unit;

wherein the image compositing unit composites an image such that display of the first image changes in accordance with information on the second image, when compositing the third image; and

wherein the image compositing unit composites an image such that display color of the first image changes in accordance with information on the second image.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first image and the second image are any one of two-dimensional images and three-dimensional images.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image compositing unit composites an image such that display of the first image changes in accordance with a voxel value in the second image, when the first image and the second image are three-dimensional images.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image compositing unit extracts a contour of a tumor on the second image, and composites an image such that display of the first image changes in accordance with positional relation to the contour.

5. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

an imaging-data acquiring unit that acquires imaging data obtained by imaging a subject to whom a contrast medium is injected;

a first image creating unit that creates a first image on which an artery blood flow is highlighted, based on imaging data in an artery phase from which artery blood-flow dynamic states can be observed;

a second image creating unit that creates a second image on which a tumor is highlighted, based on imaging data in a late phase which is a time phase that appears after the artery phase and from which presence of a tumor can be determined;

an image compositing unit that creates a third image by combining the first image and the second image; and

an image display unit that displays the third image composited by the image compositing unit;

wherein the image compositing unit composites said third image such that display of the first image changes in accordance with information on the second image, when compositing the third image; and

wherein the image compositing unit composites an image such that display color of the first image changes in accordance with information on the second image.

6. A medical image processing method comprising:

acquiring imaging data obtained by imaging a subject to whom a contrast medium is injected;

creating a first image on which an artery blood flow is highlighted, based on imaging data in an artery phase from which artery blood-flow dynamic states can be observed;

creating a second image on which a tumor is highlighted, based on imaging data in a late phase which is a time phase that appears after the artery phase and from which presence of a tumor can be determined;

creating a third image by combining the first image and the second image, comprising, in the third image, changing the display color of the first image in accordance with information in the second image; and

displaying the third image.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2016
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038891/0693 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2009
From: AOYAGI, KOTA; YAMAGATA, HITOSHI; EMA, TAKEHIRO; SATO, KYOKO; SATOH, SHUNSUKE
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022189/0926 →