Abstract:
A similar image search system includes an image database which stores a number of pieces of image data representing a number of images. Search image data representing the whole and/or a part of an image similar to which in feature is to be searched for is input and the image database is searched for similitude image data. A search report representing result of search is output.
Abstract:
An image processing method is disclosed wherein a storage medium storing image data, key information appended to the image data, and image processing parameters attached to the image data and representing image processing to be effected on the image data is accessed to read the image data and the image processing parameters and the read image data are processed based on the image processing parameters. The image processing method includes a step of reading the key information when one or more image processing parameters attached to the image data are inappropriate for the image processing, a step of establishing, based on the read key information, new image processing parameters appropriate for the image processing, and a step of image-processing the image data based on the new image processing parameters. A system for conducting the method is also disclosed.
Abstract:
When processing a radiation image, an image signal representing a radiation image and a prospective irradiation field information representing a prospective irradiation field of the radiation image are obtained in an image information obtaining section. The prospective irradiation field information is transferred to an image output section attached to the radiation image signal or separately therefrom. An image processing to make the image in the prospective irradiation field more suitable for viewing on the transferred image signal is carried out in the image output section on the basis of the transferred prospective irradiation field information, and a radiation image is output on the basis of the processed image signal.
Abstract:
An image is reproduced on a light emission display system such as a CRT by use of an image signal obtained from the image. The image to be reproduced is an image which is taken by use of an irradiation field stop and the image signal is obtained from the image in such a manner that image signal components obtained from an area outside the irradiation field becomes lower in signal level than those obtained from the area inside the irradiation field. The image is reproduced as a visible image on the light emission display system according to gradation properties where the brightness level of a picture element becomes higher as the level of the image signal component for the picture element becomes lower. A picture element the signal level of the image signal component for which is not higher than a predetermined threshold value is displayed at a brightness within a predetermined lowest brightness level range.
Abstract:
Two radiation images of a single object, which comprises a soft tissue and a bone tissue, are formed respectively with two kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, the two radiation images being to be subjected to energy subtraction processing. The energy subtraction processing is carried out on the two radiation images, and a bone image, in which the pattern of the bone tissue in the object has been extracted or emphasized, is thereby formed. Numerical information concerning the density of the bone constituent is obtained in accordance with the bone image. A bone trabecula pattern emphasizing process is carried out on the bone image, and information representing the form of bone trabeculae is thereby obtained.
Abstract:
A tube voltage, at which each of at least two kinds of radiation having different energy levels is produced, is adjusted such that a ratio between a change in the image density of bones, which change occurs due to a beam hardening phenomenon of the radiation having a high energy level, and a change in the image density of the bones, which change occurs due to a beam hardening phenomenon of the radiation having a low energy level, may become approximately equal to a ratio between subtraction factors employed in a subtraction process. Each of at least two kinds of the radiation, each of which has been produced at the thus adjusted tube voltage, is irradiated to one of at least two stimulable phosphor sheets, and radiation images of the object are thereby stored on the stimulable phosphor sheets. The radiation images are then photoelectrically read out, and digital image signals are thereby obtained. Image signal components of the digital image signals, which represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images, are then subtracted from each other, and a difference signal is thereby obtained which represents the image of only the bones represented by the radiation images.
Abstract:
At least two stimulable phosphor sheets are exposed to at least two kinds of radiation, which have different energy distributions, without an object intervening between the stimulable phosphor sheets and a source of the radiation. The stimulable phosphor sheets are then exposed to stimulating rays, which cause them to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during their exposure to the radiation. The light emitted is photoelectrically detected, and digital image signals are thereby obtained, which are to be used for compensating for nonuniformity in how the radiation is irradiated to the stimulable phosphor sheets. Digital image signals representing radiation images of an object stored with at least two kinds of radiation and the corresponding digital image signals for the compensation are then subtracted from each other, and digital image signals are obtained which are free of noise due to nonuniformity in how at least two kinds of radiation are irradiated to the stimulable phosphor sheets. The digital image signals, which are free of noise, are then subtracted from each other, and a difference signal is thereby obtained which represents the image of only the bones represented by the radiation images. Bone calcium in the bones is quantitatively analyzed by utilizing the difference signal.
Abstract:
Image signals are subjected to a first signal compression processing which is carried out with a small factor of compression. The compressed image signals, which are obtained from the first signal compression processing, are recorded on a first recording medium. When a predetermined period has elapsed after a compressed image signal obtained from the first signal compression processing was recorded on the first recording medium, or when the frequency with which the compressed image signal is read from the first recording medium has become lower than a predetermined value, the compressed image signal is read out from the first recording medium. The image signal, which has been read out from the first recording medium, is subjected to a second signal compression processing which is carried out with a large factor of compression. The compressed image signal, which is obtained from the second signal compression processing, is recorded on a second recording medium. Thereafter, the compressed image signal, for which the predetermined period has elapsed after it was recorded on the first recording medium or for which the frequency has become lower than the predetermined value, is erased from the first recording medium.
Abstract:
A stimulable phosphor sheet bearing radiation image information recorded thereon by limitation of the irradiation field is exposed to stimulating rays and light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation is photoelectrically read out to obtain image signals representing the radiation image information borne by the stimulable phosphor sheet. The irradiation field is recognized by obtaining digital image data for a plurality of positions on the stimulable phorphor sheet from the image signals, detecting prospective edge points, which are considered to be edge portions of the irradiation field on the stimulable phosphor sheet, on the basis of the image data of positions radially outwardly arranged in a plurality of directions from a predetermined point inside the irradiation field, and recognizing as the irradiation field the region surrounded by the lines passing through the prospective edge points.
Abstract:
A method of compressing radiation image signals by conducting redundancy suppression encoding processing of original image signals representing a radiation image comprises the steps of conducting pre-processing for decreasing the number of image signals of the original image signals by an appropriate method, and subjecting the image signals obtained by the pre-processing to the redundancy suppression encoding processing.