Background Non-contrast Fresh Blood Imaging (FBI) scan time can be greatly reduced using variable TR for imaging the peripheral artery without contrast infusion, in which each slice encoding (SE) and the followed echo train are played in a variable TR (vTR) (TR=n*RR) pattern. In vTR FBI, the lower limit of TR depends on the length and timing of data acquisition, and it is also limited by SAR, w...

A robot that can provide an active and enjoyable user interface is one of the most challenging applications for music information processing, because the robot should cope with high-power noises including self voices and motor noises. This paper proposes noise-robust musical beat tracking by using a robot-embedded microphone, and describes its application to a robot singer with music recognitio...

Cardiac blood flow patterns such as the vortex flow pattern inside the left ventricle have been studied to provide new information for the diagnosis of the pumping function of the human heart. Complex blood flow is visualized by imaging echo speckles of blood particles because the speckle-like texture translates to the motion of blood particles. We proposed an imaging method for echo speckles o...

AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of an indomethacin treatment strategy based on serial echocardiographic measurement of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) flow pattern with a standard protocol. METHODS Neonates weighing less than 1500 g at birth, who required respiratory support, and who had developed symptomatic PDA, were studied. PDA was confirmed in all infants using colour Doppler echoc...

Imaging diagnosis based on ultrasonic findings of the liver with Schistosomiasis Japonica has been recently reported (Nakayama et al. 1981 Uto et al. 1984). In the present study, attempts were made to classify the ultrasonic patterns of the liver infected with Schistosoma Japonicum. The calcification and fibrosis of the liver were evaluated by comparative investigation with an ultrasonogram and...

Contrast echocardiography was used before cardiac catheterisation in 37 patients with atrial septal defect and a left-to-right shunt and in 18 patients with a raised right atrial and ventricular pressure to assess the contrast echo effect in the inferior vena cava. Using two dimensional contrast apical echocardiography we found a negative contrast echo effect within the right atrium in many but...