Abnormal pattern detecting or judging apparatus, circular pattern judging apparatus, and image finding apparatus

Claim 2

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein an abnormal pattern in a radiation image of an object is detected from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing the radiation image, the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) a prospective abnormal pattern finding means for finding the prospective abnormal patterns from said image signal, ii) an information operating means for finding the anatomical information about said object from said image signal, iii) a characteristic measure calculating means for calculating a plurality of characteristic measures for each of said prospective abnormal patterns, which have been found by said prospective abnormal pattern finding means, the calculations being made from the image signal components of said image signal, which represent the image information at positions in the vicinity of each of said prospective abnormal patterns, and iv) an abnormal pattern finding means which utilizes the plurality of said characteristic measures, which have been calculated by said characteristic measure calculating means, and said anatomical information, which has been found by said information operating means, in order to find a true abnormal pattern from said prospective abnormal patterns, which have been found by said prospective abnormal pattern finding means.

Claim 3

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said abnormal pattern finding means is provided with a neural network, which receives the information about the plurality of said characteristic measures and which outputs a measure representing the level of the probability that each of said prospective abnormal patterns will be a true abnormal pattern.

Claim 4

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said prospective abnormal pattern finding means finds said prospective abnormal patterns by processing said image signal with a spatial-domain filter.

Claim 5

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein the plurality of said characteristic measures include at least one of the area, the shape, and the contrast of each of said prospective abnormal patterns.

Claim 6

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 7

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 5 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 8

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 6 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam. 1

Claim 9

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 10

An abnormal pattern judging apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object, a judgment is made as to whether a prospective abnormal pattern designated in the radiation image is or is not a true abnormal pattern, the abnormal pattern judging apparatus comprising: i) an operation means for calculating a plurality of characteristic measures from the image signal components of said image signal, which represent the image information at positions in the vicinity of said prospective abnormal pattern, and ii) a neural network, which receives the information about the plurality of said characteristic measures and which outputs a measure representing the level of the probability that said prospective abnormal pattern will be the true abnormal pattern.

Claim 11

An abnormal pattern judging apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object, a judgment is made as to whether a prospective abnormal pattern designated in the radiation image is or is not a true abnormal pattern, the abnormal pattern judging apparatus comprising: i) an operation means for calculating a plurality of characteristic measures from the image signal components of said image signal, which represent the image information at positions in the vicinity of said prospective abnormal pattern, and ii) a neural network, which receives the information about the plurality of said characteristic measures and which outputs a measure representing the level of the probability that said prospective abnormal pattern will be the true abnormal pattern.

Claim 12

An abnormal pattern judging apparatus as defined in Claim 9 wherein the plurality of said characteristic measures include at least one of the area, the shape, and the contrast of said prospective abnormal pattern.

Claim 13

An abnormal pattern judging apparatus as defined in Claim 9 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 14

An abnormal pattern judging apparatus as defined in Claim 11 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 15

An abnormal pattern judging apparatus as defined in Claim 12 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 16

An abnormal pattern judging apparatus as defined in Claim 9 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 17

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein an abnormal pattern in a radiation image of an object is detected from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing the radiation image, the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) a first prospective abnormal pattern finding means for finding the prospective abnormal patterns from said image signal, . ii) a characteristic measure calculating means for calculating a plurality of characteristic measures for each of said prospective abnormal patterns, which have been found by said first prospective abnormal pattern finding means, the calculations being made from the image signal components of said image signal, which represent the image information at positions in the vicinity of each of said prospective abnormal patterns, iii) a second prospective abnormal pattern finding means which utilizes the plurality of said characteristic measures, which have been calculated by said characteristic measure calculating means, in order to find a prospective abnormal pattern having a high probability of being a true abnormal pattern, from said prospective abnormal patterns, iv) a display means which utilizes said image signal and the information representing said prospective abnormal pattern, which has a high probability of being a true abnormal pattern, in order to display a visible image in which said prospective abnormal pattern is shown clearly, and v) an input means with which the information about whether said prospective abnormal pattern shown in said visible image is or is not a true abnormal pattern is entered, wherein said second prospective abnormal pattern finding means is provided with a learning function, with which the operations for finding a prospective abnormal pattern having a high probability of being a true abnormal pattern from said prospective abnormal patterns found by said first prospective abnormal pattern finding means are changed in accordance with said information entered with said input means.

Claim 18

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein an abnormal pattern in a radiation image of an object is detected from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing the radiation image, the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) a first prospective abnormal pattern finding means for finding the prospective abnormal patterns from said image signal, . ii) a characteristic measure calculating means for calculating a plurality of characteristic measures for each of said prospective abnormal patterns, which have been found by said first prospective abnormal pattern finding means, the calculations being made from the image signal components of said image signal, which represent the image information at positions in the vicinity of each of said prospective abnormal patterns, iii) a second prospective abnormal pattern finding means which utilizes the plurality of said characteristic measures, which have been calculated by said characteristic measure calculating means, in order to find a prospective abnormal pattern having a high probability of being a true abnormal pattern, from said prospective abnormal patterns, iv) a display means which utilizes said image signal and the information representing said prospective abnormal pattern, which has a high probability of being a true abnormal pattern, in order to display a visible image in which said prospective abnormal pattern is shown clearly, and v) an input means with which the information about whether said prospective abnormal pattern shown in said visible image is or is not a true abnormal pattern is entered, wherein said second prospective abnormal pattern finding means is provided with a learning function, with which the operations for finding a prospective abnormal pattern having a high probability of being a true abnormal pattern from said prospective abnormal patterns found by said first prospective abnormal pattern finding means are changed in accordance with said information entered with said input means.

Claim 19

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 15 wherein said second prospective abnormal pattern finding means is provided with a neural network having the learning function by back propagation method, in which said information entered with said input means is utilized as an instructor signal.

Claim 20

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 15 wherein said first prospective abnormal pattern finding means finds said prospective abnormal patterns by processing said image signal with a spatial-domain filter.

Claim 21

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 15 wherein the plurality of said characteristic measures include at least one of the area, the shape, and the contrast of each of said prospective abnormal patterns.

Claim 22

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 15 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 23

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 19 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 24

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 20 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 25

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 15 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 26

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein an abnormal pattern in a radiation image of an object is detected from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing the radiation image, the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an operation means for finding the anatomical regions in the radiation image from said image signal, ii) a storage means for storing the information about abnormal pattern detecting filters, which correspond to the anatomical regions, and iii) a detection means for detecting an abnormal pattern by reading the information about the abnormal pattern detecting filters, which correspond to the anatomical regions found by said operation means, from said storage means, and processing the image signal components, which represent image information at the anatomical regions in the radiation image, with the corresponding abnormal pattern detecting filters.

Claim 27

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein an abnormal pattern in a radiation image of an object is detected from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing the radiation image, the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an operation means for finding the anatomical regions in the radiation image from said image signal, ii) a storage means for storing the information about abnormal pattern detecting filters, which correspond to the anatomical regions, and iii) a detection means for detecting an abnormal pattern by reading the information about the abnormal pattern detecting filters, which correspond to the anatomical regions found by said operation means, from said storage means, and processing the image signal components, which represent image information at the anatomical regions in the radiation image, with the corresponding abnormal pattern detecting filters.

Claim 28

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 23 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 29

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 24 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 30

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim .25 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 31

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 23 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 32

A circular pattern judging method, which comprises the steps of: i) from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object, calculating a plurality of differences between the values of the image signal components representing adjacent picture elements in each of predetermined regions in said radiation image, said picture elements being located along each of two different directions in said radiation image, ii) calculating a mean-level value of the absolute values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, or a mean-level value of the square values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, and iii) from said mean-level values, which have been calculated for two said different directions, making a judgment as to the level of the probability that each said predetermined region in said radiation image will fall within the region corresponding to a circular pattern in said radiation image.

Claim 33

A circular pattern judging method, which comprises the steps of: i) from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object, calculating a plurality of differences between the values of the image signal components representing adjacent picture elements in each of predetermined regions in said radiation image, said picture elements being located along each of two different directions in said radiation image, ii) calculating a mean-level value of the absolute values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, or a mean-level value of the square values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, and iii) from said mean-level values, which have been calculated for two said different directions, making a judgment as to the level of the probability that each said predetermined region in said radiation image will fall within the region corresponding to a circular pattern in said radiation image.

Claim 34

A circular pattern judging method as defined in Claim 28 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 35

A circular pattern judging method as defined in Claim 29 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 36

A circular pattern judging method as defined in Claim 30 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 37

A circular pattern judging method as defined in Claim 28 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 38

A circular pattern judging apparatus, which comprises: i) a difference calculating means for calculating, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object, a plurality of differences between the values of the image signal components representing adjacent picture elements in each of predetermined regions in said radiation image, said picture elements being located along each of two different directions in said radiation image, ii) a mean calculating means for calculating a mean-level value of the absolute values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, or a mean-level value of the square values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, and iii) a judgment means for making a judgment, from said mean-level values, which have been calculated for two said different directions, as to the level of the probability that each said predetermined region in said radiation image will fall within the region corresponding to a circular pattern in said radiation image.

Claim 39

A circular pattern judging apparatus, which comprises: i) a difference calculating means for calculating, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object, a plurality of differences between the values of the image signal components representing adjacent picture elements in each of predetermined regions in said radiation image, said picture elements being located along each of two different directions in said radiation image, ii) a mean calculating means for calculating a mean-level value of the absolute values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, or a mean-level value of the square values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, and iii) a judgment means for making a judgment, from said mean-level values, which have been calculated for two said different directions, as to the level of the probability that each said predetermined region in said radiation image will fall within the region corresponding to a circular pattern in said radiation image.

Claim 40

A circular pattern judging apparatus as defined in Claim 33 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 41

A circular pattern judging apparatus as defined in Claim 34 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 42

A circular pattern judging apparatus as defined in Claim 35 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 43

A circular pattern judging apparatus as defined in Claim 33 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 44

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object which is constituted of soft tissues and bones, an abnormal pattern appearing as an approximately circular pattern in the radiation image is detected, the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an image operation means for obtaining a soft tissue image signal, which is made up of a series of soft tissue image signal components primarily representing an image of the soft tissues in said object, from a plurality of image signals representing a plurality of radiation images of said object, which radiation images have been recorded by exposing said object to at least two kinds of radiaton having different energy distributions, and ii) an abnormal pattern finding means for finding an abnormal pattern, which appears in said soft tissue image, by processing said soft tissue image signal with an abnormal pattern finding filter, wherein said abnormal pattern finding filter comprises the steps of: a) calculating the differences, Δij=fij- f0 , between the value of a soft tissue image signal component f0 representing a predetermined picture element P0 in said soft tissue image and the values of soft tissue image signal components fij representing the picture elements Pij, which are located on each of a plurality of lines Li, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, extending from said predetermined picture element PO to peripheral parts of said soft tissue image, and which are spaced a plurality of predetermined distances rij, where j = 1, 2, ..., m, from said predetermined picture element P0, b) finding a representative value, which is representative of said differences Aij, for each of said lines Li, c) calculating a mean-level value of two said representative values for each set of two said lines which extend from said predetermined picture element PO in approximately opposite directions, and d) from the mean-level values, which have been calculated for a plurality of said sets of lines, judging whether said predetermined picture element PO falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said abnormal pattern.

Claim 45

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object which is constituted of soft tissues and bones, an abnormal pattern appearing as an approximately circular pattern in the radiation image is detected, the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an image operation means for obtaining a soft tissue image signal, which is made up of a series of soft tissue image signal components primarily representing an image of the soft tissues in said object, from a plurality of image signals representing a plurality of radiation images of said object, which radiation images have been recorded by exposing said object to at least two kinds of radiaton having different energy distributions, and ii) an abnormal pattern finding means for finding an abnormal pattern, which appears in said soft tissue image, by processing said soft tissue image signal with an abnormal pattern finding filter, wherein said abnormal pattern finding filter comprises the steps of: a) calculating the differences, Δij=fij- f0 , between the value of a soft tissue image signal component f0 representing a predetermined picture element P0 in said soft tissue image and the values of soft tissue image signal components fij representing the picture elements Pij, which are located on each of a plurality of lines Li, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, extending from said predetermined picture element PO to peripheral parts of said soft tissue image, and which are spaced a plurality of predetermined distances rij, where j = 1, 2, ..., m, from said predetermined picture element P0, b) finding a representative value, which is representative of said differences Aij, for each of said lines Li, c) calculating a mean-level value of two said representative values for each set of two said lines which extend from said predetermined picture element PO in approximately opposite directions, and d) from the mean-level values, which have been calculated for a plurality of said sets of lines, judging whether said predetermined picture element PO falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said abnormal pattern.

Claim 46

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 38 further comprising a judgment means for calculating a plurality of differences between the values of the soft tissue image signal components representing adjacent picture elements in the abnormal pattern, which has been found by said abnormal pattern finding means, said picture elements being located along each of two different directions in said soft tissue image, calculating a mean-level value of the absolute values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, or a mean-level value of the square values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, and from said mean-level values, which have been calculated for two said different directions, making a judgment as to the level of the probability that said abnormal pattern, which has been found by said abnormal pattern finding means, will be a true abnormal pattern.

Claim 47

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 38 wherein said representative value is the maximum value of said differences Δij, which have been found for each of said lines Li.

Claim 48

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 38 wherein said representative value is the minimum value of said differences Aij, which have been found for each of said lines Li.

Claim 49

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 38 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 50

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 42 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 51

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 43 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 52

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 38 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 53

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object which is constituted of soft tissues and bones, an abnormal pattern appearing as an approximately circular pattern in the radiation image is detected,

Claim 54

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object which is constituted of soft tissues and bones, an abnormal pattern appearing as an approximately circular pattern in the radiation image is detected,

Claim 55

the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an image operation means for obtaining a soft tissue image signal, which is made up of a series of soft tissue image signal components primarily representing an image of the soft tissues in said object, from a plurality of image signals representing a plurality of radiation images of said object, which radiation images have been recorded by exposing said object to at least two kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, and ii) an abnormal pattern finding means for finding an abnormal pattern, which appears in said soft tissue image, by processing said soft tissue image signal with an abnormal pattern finding filter, wherein said abnormal pattern finding filter comprises the steps of: a) calculating the gradients Vfi of soft tissue image signal components fi representing the picture elements Pi, which are located on a plurality of lines Li, where i = 1, 2, .. , n, extending from a predetermined picture element PO in said soft tissue image to peripheral parts of said soft tissue image, and which are spaced a predetermined distance ri from said predetermined picture element P0, b) calculating the normalized gradients ∇fi/|∇fi| by dividing said gradients Vfi by their magnitudes |∇fi|, c) calculating the projections of said normalized gradients Vfi/lVfil on the vectors directed from said picture elements Pi to said predetermined picture element P0, the projections being expressed as ∇fi/|∇fi|* ⊕ i, where e i denotes the unit vectors directed from said picture elements Pi to said predetermined picture element P0, and * denotes the inner product, d) calculating a mean-level value from the values of said projections ∇fi/|∇fi|* e and e) from said mean-level value, judging whether said predetermined picture element PO falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said abnormal pattern.

Claim 56

the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an image operation means for obtaining a soft tissue image signal, which is made up of a series of soft tissue image signal components primarily representing an image of the soft tissues in said object, from a plurality of image signals representing a plurality of radiation images of said object, which radiation images have been recorded by exposing said object to at least two kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, and ii) an abnormal pattern finding means for finding an abnormal pattern, which appears in said soft tissue image, by processing said soft tissue image signal with an abnormal pattern finding filter, wherein said abnormal pattern finding filter comprises the steps of: a) calculating the gradients Vfi of soft tissue image signal components fi representing the picture elements Pi, which are located on a plurality of lines Li, where i = 1, 2, .. , n, extending from a predetermined picture element PO in said soft tissue image to peripheral parts of said soft tissue image, and which are spaced a predetermined distance ri from said predetermined picture element P0, b) calculating the normalized gradients ∇fi/|∇fi| by dividing said gradients Vfi by their magnitudes |∇fi|, c) calculating the projections of said normalized gradients Vfi/lVfil on the vectors directed from said picture elements Pi to said predetermined picture element P0, the projections being expressed as ∇fi/|∇fi|* ⊕ i, where e i denotes the unit vectors directed from said picture elements Pi to said predetermined picture element P0, and * denotes the inner product, d) calculating a mean-level value from the values of said projections ∇fi/|∇fi|* e and e) from said mean-level value, judging whether said predetermined picture element PO falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said abnormal pattern.

Claim 57

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 46 further comprising a judgment means for calculating a plurality of differences between the values of the soft tissue image signal components representing adjacent picture elements in the abnormal pattern, which has been found by said abnormal pattern finding means, said picture elements being located along each of two different directions in said soft tissue image, calculating a mean-level value of the absolute values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, or a mean-level value of the square values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, and from said mean-level values, which have been calculated for two said different directions, making a judgment as to the level of the probability that said abnormal pattern, which has been found by said abnormal pattern finding means, will be a true abnormal pattern.

Claim 58

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 46 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 59

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 48 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 60

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 49 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 61

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 46 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 62

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object which is constituted of soft tissues and bones, an abnormal pattern appearing as an approximately circular pattern in the radiation image is detected,

Claim 63

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object which is constituted of soft tissues and bones, an abnormal pattern appearing as an approximately circular pattern in the radiation image is detected,

Claim 64

the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an image operation means for obtaining a soft tissue image signal, which is made up of a series of soft tissue image signal components primarily representing an image of the soft tissues in said object, from a plurality of image signals representing a plurality of radiation images of said object, which radiation images have been recorded by exposing said object to at least two kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, and ii) an abnormal pattern finding means for finding an abnormal pattern, which appears in said soft tissue image, by processing said soft tissue image signal with an abnormal pattern finding filter, wherein said abnormal pattern finding filter comprises the steps of: a) calculating the gradients Vfij of soft tissue image signal components fij representing the picture elements Pij, which are located on each of a plurality of lines Li, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, extending from a predetermined picture element PO in said soft tissue image to peripheral parts of said soft tissue image, and which are spaced a plurality of predetermined distances rij, where j = 1, 2, ..., m, from said predetermined picture element P0, b) calculating the normalized gradients ∇fij/∇fij| by dividing said gradients Vfij by their magnitudes |∇fij|, c) calculating the projections of said normalized gradients ∇fij/|∇fij| on vectors which are directed from said picture elements Pij to said predetermined picture element P0, the projections being expressed as ∇fij/|∇fij|*⊕ i, where e i denotes the unit vectors directed from said picture elements Pij to said predetermined picture element P0, and * denotes the inner product, d) finding a representative value {∇fij/|∇fij|* e i}r, which is representative of said projections ∇fij/|∇fij|* e i, for each of said lines Li, e) calculating a mean level value of said representative values {∇fij/|∇fij|* e i}r, which have been found for the plurality of said lines Li, and f) from said mean-level value, judging whether said predetermined picture element PO falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said abnormal pattern.

Claim 65

the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an image operation means for obtaining a soft tissue image signal, which is made up of a series of soft tissue image signal components primarily representing an image of the soft tissues in said object, from a plurality of image signals representing a plurality of radiation images of said object, which radiation images have been recorded by exposing said object to at least two kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, and ii) an abnormal pattern finding means for finding an abnormal pattern, which appears in said soft tissue image, by processing said soft tissue image signal with an abnormal pattern finding filter, wherein said abnormal pattern finding filter comprises the steps of: a) calculating the gradients Vfij of soft tissue image signal components fij representing the picture elements Pij, which are located on each of a plurality of lines Li, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, extending from a predetermined picture element PO in said soft tissue image to peripheral parts of said soft tissue image, and which are spaced a plurality of predetermined distances rij, where j = 1, 2, ..., m, from said predetermined picture element P0, b) calculating the normalized gradients ∇fij/∇fij| by dividing said gradients Vfij by their magnitudes |∇fij|, c) calculating the projections of said normalized gradients ∇fij/|∇fij| on vectors which are directed from said picture elements Pij to said predetermined picture element P0, the projections being expressed as ∇fij/|∇fij|*⊕ i, where e i denotes the unit vectors directed from said picture elements Pij to said predetermined picture element P0, and * denotes the inner product, d) finding a representative value {∇fij/|∇fij|* e i}r, which is representative of said projections ∇fij/|∇fij|* e i, for each of said lines Li, e) calculating a mean level value of said representative values {∇fij/|∇fij|* e i}r, which have been found for the plurality of said lines Li, and f) from said mean-level value, judging whether said predetermined picture element PO falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said abnormal pattern.

Claim 66

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 52 further comprising a judgment means for calculating a plurality of differences between the values of the soft tissue image signal components representing adjacent picture elements in the abnormal pattern, which has been found by said abnormal pattern finding means, said picture elements being located along each of two different directions in said soft tissue image, calculating a mean-level value of the absolute values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, or a mean-level value of the square values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, and from said mean-level values, which have been calculated for two said different directions, making a judgment as to the level of the probability that said abnormal pattern, which has been found by said abnormal pattern finding means, will be a true abnormal pattern.

Claim 67

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 52 wherein said representative value is the maximum value of said projections ∇fij/|∇fij|* e i, which have been found for each of said lines Li.

Claim 68

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 52 wherein said representative value is the minimum value of said projections ∇fij/|∇fij|* e i, which have been found for each of said lines Li.

Claim 69

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 52 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 70

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 56 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 71

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 57 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 72

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 52 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 73

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object which is constituted of soft tissues and bones, an abnormal pattern appearing as an approximately circular pattern in the radiation image is detected,

Claim 74

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object which is constituted of soft tissues and bones, an abnormal pattern appearing as an approximately circular pattern in the radiation image is detected,

Claim 75

the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an image operation means for obtaining a soft tissue image signal, which is made up of a series of soft tissue image signal components primarily representing an image of the soft tissues in said object, from a plurality of image signals representing a plurality of radiation images of said object, which radiation images have been recorded by exposing said object to at least two kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, and ii) an abnormal pattern finding means for finding an abnormal pattern, which appears in said soft tissue image, by processing said soft tissue image signal with an abnormal pattern finding filter, wherein said abnormal pattern finding filter comprises the steps of: a) calculating: (1) a mean-level value Q0 from the values of soft tissue image signal components representing a plurality of picture elements, which are located in a center region including a predetermined picture element PO in said soft tissue image, and (2) mean-level values Qi, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, each representing the mean level of the values of soft tissue image signal components representing a plurality of picture elements, which are located in each of a plurality of peripheral regions surrounding said center region, b) calculating the differences Ai, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, between said mean-level value 00 corresponding to said center region and the respective mean-level values Qi, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, corresponding to said peripheral regions, c) finding a first characteristic value, which is representative of said differences Ai, and a second characteristic value, which represents the amount of dispersion in said differences Ai, d) calculating the ratio of said first characteristic value to said second characteristic value, e) comparing said ratio with a predetermined threshold value, and f) from the results of the comparison, judging whether said predetermined picture element PO falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said abnormal pattern.

Claim 76

the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an image operation means for obtaining a soft tissue image signal, which is made up of a series of soft tissue image signal components primarily representing an image of the soft tissues in said object, from a plurality of image signals representing a plurality of radiation images of said object, which radiation images have been recorded by exposing said object to at least two kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, and ii) an abnormal pattern finding means for finding an abnormal pattern, which appears in said soft tissue image, by processing said soft tissue image signal with an abnormal pattern finding filter, wherein said abnormal pattern finding filter comprises the steps of: a) calculating: (1) a mean-level value Q0 from the values of soft tissue image signal components representing a plurality of picture elements, which are located in a center region including a predetermined picture element PO in said soft tissue image, and (2) mean-level values Qi, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, each representing the mean level of the values of soft tissue image signal components representing a plurality of picture elements, which are located in each of a plurality of peripheral regions surrounding said center region, b) calculating the differences Ai, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, between said mean-level value 00 corresponding to said center region and the respective mean-level values Qi, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, corresponding to said peripheral regions, c) finding a first characteristic value, which is representative of said differences Ai, and a second characteristic value, which represents the amount of dispersion in said differences Ai, d) calculating the ratio of said first characteristic value to said second characteristic value, e) comparing said ratio with a predetermined threshold value, and f) from the results of the comparison, judging whether said predetermined picture element PO falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said abnormal pattern.

Claim 77

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 60 further comprising a judgment means for calculating a plurality of differences between the values of the soft tissue image signal components representing adjacent picture elements in the abnormal pattern, which has been found by said abnormal pattern finding means, said picture elements being located along each of two different directions in said soft tissue image, calculating a mean-level value of the absolute values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, or a mean-level value of the square values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, and from said mean-level values, which have been calculated for two said different directions, making a judgment as to the level of the probability that said abnormal pattern, which has been found by said abnormal pattern finding means, will be a true abnormal pattern.

Claim 78

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 60 wherein said first characteristic value is the mean-level value of said differences Ai.

Claim 79

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 60 wherein said second characteristic value is the variance of said differences Ai.

Claim 80

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 60 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 81

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 64 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 82

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 65 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 83

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 60 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 84

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object which is constituted of soft tissues and bones, an abnormal pattern appearing as an approximately circular pattern in the radiation image is detected,

Claim 85

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of an object which is constituted of soft tissues and bones, an abnormal pattern appearing as an approximately circular pattern in the radiation image is detected,

Claim 86

the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an image operation means for obtaining a soft tissue image signal, which is made up of a series of soft tissue image signal components primarily representing an image of the soft tissues in said object, from a plurality of image signals representing a plurality of radiation images of said object, which radiation images have been recorded by exposing said object to at least two kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, and ii) an abnormal pattern finding means for finding an abnormal pattern, which appears in said soft tissue image, by processing said soft tissue image signal with an abnormal pattern finding filter, wherein said abnormal pattern finding filter comprises the steps of: a) calculating: (1) a mean-level value Q0 of the values of soft tissue image signal components representing a plurality of picture elements, which are located in a center region including a predetermined picture element PO in said soft tissue image, and (2) mean-level values Qij, each representing the mean level of the values of soft tissue image signal components representing a plurality of picture elements located in each of a plurality of peripheral regions, each said peripheral region including each of picture elements Pij, which are located on each of a plurality of lines Li, where i = 1. 2, ..., n, extending from said predetermined picture element PO to peripheral parts of said soft tissue image, and which are spaced a plurality of predetermined distances rij, where j = 1, 2, ..., m, from said predetermined picture element P0, b) finding a representative value Qi, which is representative of said mean-level values, for each of said lines Li, c) calculating the differences Ai, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, between said mean-level value Q0 corresponding to said center region and the respective representative values Qi, which have been found for the plurality of said lines Li, d) finding a first characteristic value, which is representative of said differences Ai, and a second characteristic value, which represents the amount of dispersion in said differences Ai, e) calculating the ratio of said first characteristic value to said second characteristic value, f) comparing said ratio with a predetermined threshold value, and g) from the results of the comparison, judging whether said predetermined picture element PO falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said abnormal pattern.

Claim 87

the abnormal pattern detecting apparatus comprising: i) an image operation means for obtaining a soft tissue image signal, which is made up of a series of soft tissue image signal components primarily representing an image of the soft tissues in said object, from a plurality of image signals representing a plurality of radiation images of said object, which radiation images have been recorded by exposing said object to at least two kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, and ii) an abnormal pattern finding means for finding an abnormal pattern, which appears in said soft tissue image, by processing said soft tissue image signal with an abnormal pattern finding filter, wherein said abnormal pattern finding filter comprises the steps of: a) calculating: (1) a mean-level value Q0 of the values of soft tissue image signal components representing a plurality of picture elements, which are located in a center region including a predetermined picture element PO in said soft tissue image, and (2) mean-level values Qij, each representing the mean level of the values of soft tissue image signal components representing a plurality of picture elements located in each of a plurality of peripheral regions, each said peripheral region including each of picture elements Pij, which are located on each of a plurality of lines Li, where i = 1. 2, ..., n, extending from said predetermined picture element PO to peripheral parts of said soft tissue image, and which are spaced a plurality of predetermined distances rij, where j = 1, 2, ..., m, from said predetermined picture element P0, b) finding a representative value Qi, which is representative of said mean-level values, for each of said lines Li, c) calculating the differences Ai, where i = 1, 2, ..., n, between said mean-level value Q0 corresponding to said center region and the respective representative values Qi, which have been found for the plurality of said lines Li, d) finding a first characteristic value, which is representative of said differences Ai, and a second characteristic value, which represents the amount of dispersion in said differences Ai, e) calculating the ratio of said first characteristic value to said second characteristic value, f) comparing said ratio with a predetermined threshold value, and g) from the results of the comparison, judging whether said predetermined picture element PO falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said abnormal pattern.

Claim 88

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 68 further comprising a judgment means for calculating a plurality of differences between the values of the soft tissue image signal components representing adjacent picture elements in the abnormal pattern, which has been found by said abnormal pattern finding means, said picture elements being located along each of two different directions in said soft tissue image, calculating a mean-level value of the absolute values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, or a mean-level value of the square values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, and from said mean-level values, which have been calculated for two said different directions, making a judgment as to the level of the probability that said abnormal pattern, which has been found by said abnormal pattern finding means, will be a true abnormal pattern.

Claim 89

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 68 wherein said representative value Qi is the maximum value of said mean-level values Qij corresponding to the peripheral regions located along each of said lines Li.

Claim 90

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 68 wherein said representative value Qi is the minimum value of said mean-level values Qij corresponding to the peripheral regions located along each of said lines Li.

Claim 91

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 68 wherein said radiation image of the object has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 92

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 72 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 93

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 73 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 94

An abnormal pattern detecting apparatus as defined in Claim 68 wherein said radiation image of the object has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 95

An image finding apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of a human body, a tumor image in the radiation image is found,

Claim 96

An image finding apparatus wherein, from an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing a radiation image of a human body, a tumor image in the radiation image is found,

Claim 97

the image finding apparatus comprising: i) a characteristic measure calculating means for calculating the characteristic measures for a plurality of picture elements in said radiation image by processing said image signal with a spatial-domain filter, which yields the characteristic measures whose values vary in accordance with whether a predetermined picture element in said radiation image falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said tumor image, ii) a prospective tumor image finding means for finding the prospective tumor images from said characteristic measures, and iii) a tumor image finding means for finding a tumor image from said prospective tumor images.

Claim 98

the image finding apparatus comprising: i) a characteristic measure calculating means for calculating the characteristic measures for a plurality of picture elements in said radiation image by processing said image signal with a spatial-domain filter, which yields the characteristic measures whose values vary in accordance with whether a predetermined picture element in said radiation image falls or does not fall within the region corresponding to said tumor image, ii) a prospective tumor image finding means for finding the prospective tumor images from said characteristic measures, and iii) a tumor image finding means for finding a tumor image from said prospective tumor images.

Claim 99

An image finding apparatus as defined in Claim 76 wherein said tumor image finding means is provided with: a) a difference calculating means for calculating a plurality of differences between the values of the image signal components representing adjacent picture elements in a region corresponding to each said prospective tumor image, said picture elements being located along each of two different directions in said radiation image, b) a mean calculating means for calculating a mean-level value of the absolute values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, or a mean level value of the square values of the plurality of said differences for each of two said different directions, and c) a judgment means for judging, from said mean-level values, which have been calculated for two said different directions, whether said prospective tumor image is or is not a true tumor image.

Claim 100

An image finding apparatus as defined in Claim 76 wherein said radiation image has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 101

An image finding apparatus as defined in Claim 78 wherein said image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 102

An image finding apparatus as defined in Claim 79 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 103

An image finding apparatus as defined in Claim 76 wherein said radiation image has been recorded on photographic film.

Claim 104

An image display apparatus comprising: i) a first image display section which is provided with: a) a means for entering an image control signal, b) a first image processing means for processing an original image signal in accordance with said image control signal, c) a first display means for displaying an image represented by an image signal, which has been processed by said first image processing means, and d) a transmission means for transmitting both said original image signal and said image control signal, and ii) a second image display section which is provided with: e) a reception means for receiving both said original image signal and said image control signal, which are transmitted from said transmission means, f) a second image processing means for processing said original image signal in accordance with the received image control signal, and g) a second display means for displaying an image represented by an image signal, which has been processed by said second image processing means.

Claim 105

An image display apparatus comprising: i) a first image display section which is provided with: a) a means for entering an image control signal, b) a first image processing means for processing an original image signal in accordance with said image control signal, c) a first display means for displaying an image represented by an image signal, which has been processed by said first image processing means, and d) a transmission means for transmitting both said original image signal and said image control signal, and ii) a second image display section which is provided with: e) a reception means for receiving both said original image signal and said image control signal, which are transmitted from said transmission means, f) a second image processing means for processing said original image signal in accordance with the received image control signal, and g) a second display means for displaying an image represented by an image signal, which has been processed by said second image processing means.

Claim 106

An image display apparatus as defined in Claim 82 wherein said image control signal represents the information about the positions of an abnormal pattern in an image represented by said original image signal.

Claim 107

An image display apparatus as defined in Claim 82 wherein said original image signal is obtained by reading out a radiation image which has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Claim 108

An image display apparatus as defined in Claim 84 wherein said original image signal is obtained from a read-out operation wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected photoelectrically.

Claim 109

An image display apparatus as defined in Claim 85 wherein said stimulating rays are a laser beam.

Claim 110

An image display apparatus as defined in Claim 82 wherein said original image signal is obtained by reading out a radiation image which has been recorded on photographic film.