[Problem] To provide a radiographic image processing technique capable of detecting a metal marker from a radiographic image at high speed and with a high degree of accuracy.

[Solution] The above-described problem is solved by a radiographic image processing apparatus including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a radiographic image reflecting a plurality of marker; a generation unit configured to generate a low-resolution image in which the resolution of the radiographic image has been reduced; a position identification unit configured to identify respective positions of a plurality of markers in the low-resolution image based on a characteristic of the plurality of markers; and a position estimation unit configured to estimate positions of the plurality of markers in the radiographic image by searching for positions on the radiographic image corresponding to the respective positions of the plurality of markers in the low-resolution image.

A tunnel computerised tomographic scanner comprising a rotor (3), an X-ray emitter (7) mounted on the rotor (3), an X-ray detector (8) mounted on the rotor (3), on the opposite side of a detecting zone (4), the X-ray detector (8) comprising a scintillator (9) which has at least one emission face (10) from which the scintillator (9) emits light in the visible spectrum when it is struck by X-rays, and a plurality of video cameras (12) which are positioned in such a way that each of them frames at least one portion of the scintillator (9), for acquiring one after another second images, in the visible spectrum, of the respective portion of the scintillator (9), wherein, according to the method, at least two separate video cameras (12) substantially frame each zone of the emission face (10), and an electronic processing unit is programmed to combine all of the second images obtained by the video cameras (12) and to obtain a first image of the emission face (10), to be used for the tomographic reconstruction of an object (6) which is placed in the detecting zone (4).

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a system and method for synchronized markers. A multiple-scanner X-ray system includes a belt passing by an upper X-ray scanner and a lower X-ray scanner. An upper belt portion is conveyed in a first direction by the upper X-ray scanner and a lower belt portion is conveyed in a second direction opposite the first direction by the lower X-ray scanner, to obtain upper and lower X-rays. A plurality of X-ray reactive markers are positionally synchronized relative to each other and the belt and conveyed by the belt to cause upper visual marker information, corresponding to a visual appearance of the upper scanned belt section, to be consistent with i) upper X-ray marker information of the upper X-ray, and ii) lower X-ray marker information of the lower X-ray.

An inspection position identification method that allows accurate inspection to be performed without in-advance identification of the position of an inspection plane in an inspected target. A three-dimensional image generation method that allows generation of a three-dimensional image for inspection without in-advance identification of the position of an inspection plane in an inspected target and then allows inspection to be performed. An inspection device including the methods. An inspection device includes a storage unit, which stores a radiation transmission image of an inspected object and a three-dimensional image generated from the radiation transmission image, and a control unit. The process carried out by the control unit for identifying an inspection position in a three-dimensional image includes identifying the position of a transmission picture of the inspection position in the radiation transmission image and identifying the inspection position in the three-dimensional image from the position of the transmission picture.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a system and method for synchronized markers. A multiple-scanner X-ray system includes a belt passing by an upper X-ray scanner and a lower X-ray scanner. An upper belt portion is conveyed in a first direction by the upper X-ray scanner and a lower belt portion is conveyed in a second direction opposite the first direction by the lower X-ray scanner, to obtain upper and lower X-rays. A plurality of X-ray reactive markers are positionally synchronized relative to each other and the belt and conveyed by the belt to cause upper visual marker information, corresponding to a visual appearance of the upper scanned belt section, to be consistent with i) upper X-ray marker information of the upper X-ray, and ii) lower X-ray marker information of the lower X-ray.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a system and method for synchronized markers. A multiple-scanner X-ray system includes a belt passing by an upper X-ray scanner and a lower X-ray scanner. An upper belt portion is conveyed in a first direction by the upper X-ray scanner and a lower belt portion is conveyed in a second direction opposite the first direction by the lower X-ray scanner, to obtain upper and lower X-rays. A plurality of X-ray reactive markers are positionally synchronized relative to each other and the belt and conveyed by the belt to cause upper visual marker information, corresponding to a visual appearance of the upper scanned belt section, to be consistent with i) upper X-ray marker information of the upper X-ray, and ii) lower X-ray marker information of the lower X-ray.

An inspection device includes: an electromagnetic wave irradiator that irradiates, with a predetermined electromagnetic wave from a first film side, the package that is conveyed along a predetermined direction and that has the spaces at a plurality of positions in a width direction; an imaging device that is disposed opposed to the electromagnetic wave irradiator across the package, includes an electromagnetic wave detector including a plurality of detection elements that is arrayed along the width direction and that detects the electromagnetic wave radiated from the electromagnetic wave irradiator and transmitted through the package, and sequentially outputs an obtained electromagnetic wave transmission image every time the package is conveyed by a predetermined amount; and an image processing device that processes an image signal output from the imaging device.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a system and method for synchronized markers. A multiple-scanner X-ray system includes a belt passing by an upper X-ray scanner and a lower X-ray scanner. An upper belt portion is conveyed in a first direction by the upper X-ray scanner and a lower belt portion is conveyed in a second direction opposite the first direction by the lower X-ray scanner, to obtain upper and lower X-rays. A plurality of X-ray reactive markers are positionally synchronized relative to each other and the belt and conveyed by the belt to cause upper visual marker information, corresponding to a visual appearance of the upper scanned belt section, to be consistent with i) upper X-ray marker information of the upper X-ray, and ii) lower X-ray marker information of the lower X-ray.

A method of investigating a specimen using X-ray tomography, comprising (a) mounting the specimen to a specimen holder, (b) irradiating the specimen with a beam of X-rays along a first line of sight through the specimen, and (c) detecting a flux of X-rays transmitted through the specimen and forming a first image. Then (d) repeating the steps (b) and (c) for a series of different lines of sight through the specimen, thereby producing a corresponding series of images. The method further comprises (e) performing a mathematical reconstruction on said series of images, so as produce a tomogram of at least part of the specimen, wherein the specimen is disposed within a substantially cylindrical metallic shell with an associated cylindrical axis, the beam of X-rays is produced by directing a beam of charged particles onto a zone of said metallic shell, so as to produce a confined X-ray source at said zone, and the series of different lines of sight is achieved by rotating said shell about said cylindrical axis, thereby causing relative motion of said zone relative to the specimen.

A method of investigating a specimen using X-ray tomography, comprising (a) mounting the specimen to a specimen holder, (b) irradiating the specimen with a beam of X-rays along a first line of sight through the specimen, and (c) detecting a flux of X-rays transmitted through the specimen and forming a first image. Then (d) repeating the steps (b) and (c) for a series of different lines of sight through the specimen, thereby producing a corresponding series of images. The method further comprises (e) performing a mathematical reconstruction on said series of images, so as produce a tomogram of at least part of the specimen, wherein the specimen is disposed within a substantially cylindrical metallic shell with an associated cylindrical axis, the beam of X-rays is produced by directing a beam of charged particles onto a zone of said metallic shell, so as to produce a confined X-ray source at said zone, and the series of different lines of sight is achieved by rotating said shell about said cylindrical axis, thereby causing relative motion of said zone relative to the specimen.