48 results about "Contrast used" patented technology

A method of generating images of a portion of a body includes introducing a contrast agent into the body, generating a first set of image data using radiation at a first energy level after the contrast agent is introduced into the body, generating a second set of image data using radiation at a second energy level after the contrast agent is introduced into the body, and creating a volumetric composite image using the first and the second sets of image data.

A method of driving a liquid crystal display includes arranging an externally provided first data into a histogram for each frame, producing a second data having an expanded contrast using the histogram, determining a control value by extracting a peak value at a position where brightness components are concentrated in a distribution, and controlling a brightness of a back light in accordance with a gray level of the control value.

A method for improving disease diagnosis using contrast enhancement presentation comprising: providing an input digital diagnostic image; applying a decomposition filter bank to the input digital diagnostic image; constructing a tone scale curve from the input digital diagnostic image; applying said tone scale curve to the input digital diagnostic image to produce a tone-scaled image; applying a decomposition filter bank to the tone-scaled image; generating the contrast weight control signals from the input digital diagnostic image by extracting the high contrast edge signals at the coarse scale; adjusting the decomposition outputs from both the input image and the tone-scaled image according to the contrast weight control signals; and applying a reconstruction filter bank to the adjusted signals to produce a contrast enhancement presentation output image.

A text enhancement unit is introduced in order to alleviate the degradation of text characters on computer or television displays. The text enhancement unit uses an enhancement process to regain uniformity and intensity that may be lost during image processing. The text enhancer unit may be placed between an image processing unit such as a scaler, de-interlacer, or DSP, and a computer or television display to improve the quality of text characters that may have become degraded by image processing performed by the image processing unit. In one embodiment, the text enhancer unit improves contrast by multiplying pixel intensity by an intensity multiplier. In a second embodiment, the text enhancer unit improves contrast using a threshold operation which outputs either a very high or very low intensity pixel. In an third embodiment, the text enhancer unit improves contrast using a threshold operation which outputs either a very low intensity pixel or a pixel multiplied by an intensity multiplier. In a fourth embodiment, the text enhancer unit improves contrast using a threshold operation which outputs either an unchanged pixel or a pixel multiplied by an intensity multiplier. In a fifth embodiment, the text enhancer unit improves contrast using a dual threshold operation which outputs either a very low intensity pixel, a very high intensity pixel, or an unchanged pixel.

The invention relates to the use of mass labelled probes to characterise nucleic acids by mass spectrometry. Thus the invention provides methods of detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample, using a circularising probe in which a mass tag is present in the probe. Further methods of detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid are provided, which in contrast use a probe detection sequence in the circularising probe, wherein the probe detection sequence is detected with a probe attached to a mass tag. Methods for determining a genetic profile from the genome of an organism also form part of the invention.

The invention relates to the use of mass labeled probes to characterise nucleic acids by mass spectrometry. Thus the invention provides methods of detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample, using a circularising probe in which a mass tag is present in the probe. Further methods of detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid are provided, which in contrast use a probe detection sequence in the circularising probe, wherein the probe detection sequence is detected with a probe attached to a mass tag. Methods for determining a genetic profile from the genome of an organism also form part of the invention.

A method, system and computer readable medium for implementing and performing a multi-resolution contrast-based dynamic range management algorithm and allowing for the efficient compression of an intensity dynamic range of an input image to a reduced intensity dynamic range of an image display signal. Specifically, the method, system and computer readable medium of the invention comprise decomposing the input image into a plurality of image components, modifying the intensity characteristics of the plurality of image components and reconstructing the plurality of image components into an output image for display on an image display device. In another aspect of the method, system and computer readable medium of the invention, the decomposition of the input image and reconstruction into an output image are performed using a Laplacian pyramid. In a further aspect of the method, system and computer readable medium of the invention, the intensity characteristics of each of the image components in the plurality are modified separately.

The invention relates to a method of CEST or APT MR imaging of at least a portion of a body (10) placed in a main magnetic field B0 within the examination volume of a MR device. The method of the invention comprises the following steps: •a) subjecting the portion of the body (10) to a saturation RF pulse at a saturation frequency offset; •b) subjecting the portion of the body (10) to an imaging sequence comprising at least one excitation / refocusing RF pulse and switched magnetic field gradients, whereby MR signals are acquired from the portion of the body (10) as spin echo signals; •c) repeating steps a) and b) two or more times, wherein the saturation frequency offset and / or a echo time shift in the imaging sequence are varied, such that a different combination of saturation frequency offset and echo time shift is applied in two or more of the repetitions; •d) reconstructing a MR image and / or B0 field homogeneity corrected APT / CEST images from the acquired MR signals. Moreover, the invention relates to a MR device (1) for carrying out the method of the invention and to a computer program to be run on a MR device.

A method of driving a liquid crystal display includes arranging an externally provided first data into a histogram for each frame, producing a second data having an expanded contrast using the histogram, determining a control value by extracting a peak value at a position where brightness components are concentrated in a distribution, and controlling a brightness of a back light in accordance with a gray level of the control value.

An imaging system includes an identification module, an analysis module, and a determination module. The identification module is configured to identify a scanning mode of operation. The analysis module is configured to determine an attenuation for an object for a scan to be performed on the object. The determination module is configured to determine an image contrast for each of plural setting combinations, determine a corresponding tolerable noise for the image contrast for each of the setting combinations based on the scanning mode of operation, and determine a corresponding diagnostic dosage for each setting combination, the diagnostic dosages corresponding to the image contrast and tolerable noise for the corresponding setting combination. The determination module is also configured to select an operational setting for the scan to be performed using the dosages determined.

This disclosure relates to the field of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). This disclosure particularly relates to an OCT system with improved motion contrast. This disclosure particularly relates to motion contrast methods for such OCT systems. The OCT system of this disclosure may have a configuration that scans a physical object, which has a surface and a depth, with a beam of light that has a beam width and a direction; acquires OCT signals from the scan; forms at least one A-scan using the acquired OCT signals; forms at least one B-scan cluster set using the acquired OCT signals that includes at least two B-scan clusters that each include at least two B-scans. The B-scans within each B-scan cluster set are parallel to one another and parallel to the direction of the beam of light. The OCT system may have a configuration that calculates OCT motion contrast using the at least one B-scan cluster set. This OCT system may form and display an image of the physical object.

The invention relates to a magnetic resonance image contrast agent which uses arabinogalactan as carrier, wherein its production comprises that: using ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid, diethylene triamine pentacetic acid N-butanimide active ester, ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid, or the anhydrides of diethylene triamine pentacetic, via one short connecting arm to react with amination arabinogalactan; forming amido bond to connect ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid or diethylene triamine pentacetic acid to the arabinogalactan, to match magnetic metal ion as manganese, iron or lanthanide rare-earth element, to obtain complex. The invention has significant liver selectivity and low cute toxin. And the inventive contrast agent can be used in magnetic resonance diagnosis, X-ray CT or Y-flash imaging diagnosis.

A system and method for generating high resolution (HR) images from low resolution (LR) images or data by selectively choosing neighbors and the tissue types of the neighbors when estimating the image intensity of a voxel with the values of the neighbors. The system and method may interpolate LR images of a first contrast with the help of the high resolution HR images of a second contrast using the anatomical structures in both sets of images.

In a SPACE (Sampling Perfection with Application optimized Contrasts using different flip angle Evolutions) or equivalent magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequence, the readout dephasing gradient is generated (activated) so as to occur immediately in front of the second refocusing pulse, thereby eliminating the long time duration that occurs in conventional SPACE or equivalent sequences between excitation and readout. This long time duration has been identified as a source for flow-related artifacts that occur in images reconstructed from data acquired according to conventional SPACE or equivalent sequences. By eliminating this long time duration, such flow-related artifacts are substantially reduced, if not eliminated.

The invention is a device capable of performing an unspecified number of treatments on any part of the body, locally or generally and at high speed, wherein the patient does not come into contact with vapours or fluids, whether in manual or automatic operating mode with pre-programmed treatments, using to this end contrasting applications as an essential base. The patient receives the contrasting applications through so-called contrast modules (17) made of impermeable, flexible and heat-conducting material, designed to suit each of the areas of the patient's body to be treated. The fluid, previously heated or cooled to the appropriate temperature, circulates through the contrast modules, transmitting the different temperatures therethrough (cold and hot applications). The device includes, for operation thereof, a thermostat control module having one, two, three or more independent circuits.

Patch detection ATR control is executed each time image formation of a predetermined number of sheets is performed, and a replenishment quantity of a replenishment developer to be supplied from a hopper (31) is corrected so that a toner charge amount of a developer included in a developing device (4) becomes closer to a target toner charge amount. Further, Dmax control is executed each time a predetermined number of times of control for correcting the replenishment quantity of the replenishment developer are performed, and a development contrast used for the image formation is set so that a developed toner image attains a maximum density of an output image. A control portion (110) changes the target toner charge amount based on a density of a patch formed in accordance with the Dmax control.

A method is provided that includes applying at least one radiofrequency saturation pulse at a frequency or a range of frequencies to substantially saturate magnetization corresponding to an exchangeable proton in the ROI to generate magnetic resonance (MR) data. The MR data is then acquired using an echo-planar imaging readout, which is configured to sample a series of gradient echo pulse trains at a series of gradient echo times and a series of spin echo pulse trains at a series of spin echo times. One or more relaxometry measurement is then computed using the MR data sampled at the gradient echo times and the spin echo times. An oxygen-weighted image is then generated using the one or more relaxometry measurement, and a pH-weighted image is generated using MR data sampled at one or more of the spin echo times or gradient echo times.

This disclosure relates to the field of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). This disclosure particularly relates to an OCT system with improved motion contrast. This disclosure particularly relates to motion contrast methods for such OCT systems. The OCT system of this disclosure may have a configuration that scans a physical object, which has a surface and a depth, with a beam of light that has a beam width and a direction; acquires OCT signals from the scan; forms at least one A-scan using the acquired OCT signals; forms at least one B-scan cluster set using the acquired OCT signals that includes at least two B-scan clusters that each include at least two B-scans. The B-scans within each B-scan cluster set are parallel to one another and parallel to the direction of the beam of light. The OCT system may have a configuration that calculates OCT motion contrast using the at least one B-scan cluster set. This OCT system may form and display an image of the physical object.

A magnetic resonance imaging sequence is defined by an imaging protocol and parameter values for a set of parameters of the imaging protocol. A contrast signal score is computed for the magnetic resonance imaging sequence respective to a contrast type to be scored using a scoring equation. A contrast type is determined for the magnetic resonance imaging sequence based on the computed contrast signal score. In one approach, the computing is repeated for a plurality of different contrast types to be scored, and the determining is based on the computed contrast signal scores.

A ring shape lighting device (1), used for lighting the mark around a CCD camera (3), has a lighting device (1), a lighting brightness control device (10), a lighting height control device (11), a lighting color control device (12) and a controller (5). The controller controls these devices and detects the marks using the CCD camera (3), by changing the lighting brightness at 1 percent step from 1 to 100 percent with different combinations of lighting height and lighting color. The device detects the mark contrasts using a contrast detection / determination device (23) and detects the variance using a variance detection / determination device (24). The device then determines the best lighting condition based on the variance.

The invention relates to the field of medical imaging, and in particular relates to a head and neck angiography method. The head and neck angiography method comprises the following steps of: (1), obtaining the basic data of an examined person including the sex, the age, the heart rate, the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure; (2), substituting the obtained basic data of the examined person into a PT time calculation formula; (3), determining the scanning / exposure time T through a defined scanning range; (4), obtaining the total injection time according to the PT time and the exposuretime T, selecting the injection rate of a contrast agent to be 3.0-5.0 ml / s, and obtaining the total injection amount and the total amount of the contrast agent by calculation; and (5), setting the delay time to the PT time on a CT scanner, starting the exposure key of the CT scanner and a contrast agent injector at the same time, injecting the total amount of the contrast agent, then, continuously injecting the total amount of normal saline injection, and performing exposure by the CT scanner, so that an examination image is obtained. The head and neck angiography method in the invention is used for improving the imaging effect of blood vessels; the use amount of the contrast agent is used in a personalized manner; therefore, the radiation dosage is reduced; and the radiation injury of radiography on a patient and the rate of allergic reaction are reduced.

The present invention relates to contrast agents for diagnostic imaging. In particular, the present invention relates to novel multimeric compounds that exhibit improved relaxation rates when binding endogenous proteins or other physiologically relevant sites. Such compounds include: a) two or more image-enhancing moieties (“IEMs”) (or signal-generating moieties) comprising multimeric subunits; b) two or more target-binding moieties (“TBMs”) that provide In vivo positioning and multibody rigidification; c) a framework ("backbone"); and d) an optional linker for attaching the IEMs to the framework. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and methods of using these compounds and compositions to enhance contrast in diagnostic imaging.

The invention provides an underwater image restoration method based on wavelength compensation. The method comprises the following steps: performing nine-digit-based subdivision hierarchical search onan original image to estimate atmospheric light spots; and then calculating a transmission image by using a Haze-lines method in different Jerlov water types, compensating atmospheric light by usingdifferent attenuation coefficients, and calculating a distance image and a depth image to obtain a restored image. In order to further improve the contrast of the underwater image, a contrast-limitedadaptive histogram is used to enhance the restoration result. A final output image is determined according to a selection rule based on gray world hypothesis and information entropy. According to theinvention, the atmospheric light is obtained by using a nine-digit method, so that the influence of scenery and light spots on estimation of the atmospheric light is effectively avoided, and the atmospheric light is accurately estimated. The distance map and the depth map are estimated by using different water types, the underwater image degradation problem is effectively solved, and finally, thecontrast and the brightness of the image can be effectively enhanced by using the contrast-limited adaptive histogram for enhancement.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for measuring a concentration of a contrast agent using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The method includes acquiring pre- and post-contrast data from a volume of a subject, where the pre-contrast data is acquired before a contrast agent is administered and the post-contrast data is acquired after the contrast agent is administered. A pre- and post-contrast resonance frequency map are then computed, where the pre-contrast frequency map is based on one or more pre-contrast resonance frequency values, and the post-contrast resonance frequency map is based on one or more post-contrast resonance frequency values. The pre- and post-contrast frequencies maps are then used to generate a resonance frequency change map that is subsequently used to generate a contrast agent concentration map that indicate a concentration of the contrast agent that was present at each voxel in the volume at the second time.

A method for converting tone of a chest X-ray image includes obtaining a target chest X-ray image, detecting, in the target chest X-ray image using a model obtained as a result of machine learning, a structure including a linear structure formed of a first linear area that has been drawn by projecting anatomical structures whose X-ray transmittances are different from each other or a second linear area drawn by projecting an anatomical structure including a wall of a trachea, a wall of a bronchus, or a hair line, extracting a pixel group corresponding to a neighboring area of the structure, generating a contrast conversion expression for histogram equalization using a histogram of the pixel group, and converting luminance of each pixel value in entirety of the target chest X-ray image using the contrast conversion expression.

An image forming apparatus which is able to shoot high-quality images while improving image stabilization performance. An optical device which corrects for image blurring is moved in a direction different from an optical axis. Focusing is controlled by calculating a shape of a contrast using AF evaluation values at respective positions of a focus lens, which moves in the direction of the optical axis, at predetermined intervals and using a position of the focus lens at which the contrast is at its peak as a position at which a bundle of rays comes to a focus on a light-incident plane of the image pickup device. During the focusing control, positions of the focus lens obtained when the AF evaluation values were obtained or the obtained AF evaluation values are corrected according to detected positions of the optical device in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.