Image processing apparatus and image processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018047168-A1
Application number	US-201715452798-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2017
Priority date	Aug 12, 2016
Publication date	Feb 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image processing apparatus comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to select a specified cross section from three dimensional (3D) image data. And the processing circuitry is configured to perform control so as to form a curve corresponding to a curve delineated on the specified cross section, from the specified cross section to a cross section within a specified range, so as to form curved ace on the 3D image data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image processing apparatus comprising:
processing circuitry configured to: select a specified cross section from three dimensional (3D) image data; and perform control so as to form a curve corresponding to a curve delineated the specified cross section, from the specified cross section to a cross section within a specified range, so as to form curved surface on the 3D image data.

2 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select a specified number of points from the curve delineated on the specified cross section, calculate points corresponding to the selected points from the cross section within the specified range, and connect the calculated points, so as to form a curve on the cross section within the specified range.

3 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive a correction to the curved surface.

4 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to identify a type of the curve delineated on the specified cross section.

5 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
display a 3D image based on the 3D image data on which the curved surface is formed; select a plurality of the specified cross sections; and display the 3D image in a range in which the curved surface is formed whenever the curve is delineated on the specified cross section.

6 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select a plurality of the specified cross sections that are parallel to each other.

7 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select a plurality of the specified cross sections that are parallel to a sagittal plane and have certain intervals between each other.

8 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the 3D image data includes a whole or part of a lung.

9 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select, from the 3D image data, a plurality of cross sections including a cross section that does not include an aortic arch and includes a heart of cross sections adjacent to a cross section that includes the aortic arch, a cross section in which an area of a lung region is maximized, and a cross section that does not include the heart of cross sections adjacent to a cross section that includes the heart, as the specified cross sections.

10 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to select a cross section that is located at a middle position of cross sections that do not include the heart and include the lung, as the specified cross section.

11 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the 3D image data includes a whole or part of a liver.

12 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
combine pieces of image data with each other; select a plurality of the specified cross sections; form the curved surface for each specified cross section, generate partial 3D image data that corresponds to the specified cross section and the cross section within the specified range in the entire 3D image data and in which the curved surface is formed for each specified cross section; and combine a plurality of pieces of the partial 3D image data while interpolating a gap between the pieces of the partial 3D image data.

13 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select a plurality of the specified cross sections based on a specified selection mode, and, when the curve is formed again, select a plurality of the specified cross sections based on a selection mode different from the specified selection mode.

14 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to connect two adjacent points of the calculated points using a straight line so as to form a curve on the cross section within the specified range.

15 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to connect two adjacent points of the calculated points using a least cost path for pixel values so as to form a curve on the cross section within the specified range.

16 . An image processing method comprising:
selecting a specified cross section from three dimensional (3D) image data; and forming a curve corresponding to a curve delineated on the specified cross section, from the specified cross section to a cross section within a specified range, so as to form curved surface on the 3D image data.

Assignees

• Toshiba Medical Sys Corp

Inventors

• Chen Qi
• Wang Shaobin
• Ji Yongnan
• Zhao Jianchun

Classifications

• G06T2207/20096

  Interactive definition of curve of interest · CPC title

• G06T2207/30061

  Lung · CPC title

• G06T2207/10081

  Computed x-ray tomography [CT] · CPC title

• G06T7/11 Primary

  Region-based segmentation · CPC title

• G06T2207/10028

  Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds · CPC title