Abstract: An inventive medical imaging marker includes a base (2) composed of a non-imageable material, three spherical members (10, 11, 12) provided in a predetermined positional relationship in the base (2) and each composed of an imageable material, and auxiliary marker members (20, 21, 22) provided in the base (2) and composed of the imageable material. The auxiliary marker members (20, 21, 22) respectively have linear portions (20L, 21L, 22L) which are disposed parallel to straight lines extending through center points of the three spherical members (10, 11, 12) and each have a predetermined length sufficient to serve as a mark. The center points of the three spherical members (10, 11, 12) can be correctly identified in a captured image with reference to the linear portions (20L, 21L, 22L) of the auxiliary marker members (20, 21, 22) of the inventive medical imaging marker. Thus, reference axes can be correctly defined in the image.

Abstract: The conventional display of a medical 3-dimensional image fails to display both the left and right sides of the patient simultaneously and symmetrically. The medical 3-dimensional image information cannot be therefore utilized efficiently for a comparative evaluation on the symmetrical left and right sides when making a diagnosis or a plan for surgery or treatment. According to a display control program, by displaying medical 3-dimensional images to be displayed on the display screen in a pair on the left and right sides, and by rotating a pair of the displays on the left and right sides in opposite directions with respect to the vertical axis (Z axis) to form and display an image on the opposite side corresponding to one viewpoint direction, both the left and right sides of the patent can be displayed simultaneously and symmetrically.

Abstract: A conventional medical image processing apparatus is capable of forming a section perpendicular to a reference plane, but has a drawback that a section intersecting the reference plane at a desired angle other than the right angle cannot be formed. A sectional line is defined in a three-dimensional image viewed perpendicularly to a reference plane. Then, the displayed image is switched to an image viewed along the sectional line, and a line indicative of the reference plane and a line indicative of a sectional plane based on the sectional line are displayed in the image. In turn, the line indicative of the displayed sectional plane is inclined with respect to the line indicative of the reference plane. Then, a sectional image taken along the sectional plane defined by the inclined line is displayed.

Abstract: A medical simulation apparatus is provided, which is capable of performing a simulation by correlating a three-dimensional image with an entity model. Coordinates of measurement marks MP1, MP2, MP3 on a surface of a lower dental arch model 62 in a coordinate system defined by three reference marks MK1, MK2, MK3 are acquired before and after displacement of the lower dental arch model 62. The coordinates thus acquired are converted into coordinates in a coordinate system defined by reference marks PK1, PK2, PK3 on the basis of a relationship between the reference marks MK1, MK2, MK3 and the reference marks PK1, PK2, PK3. Then, changes in the coordinates after displacement of the lower dental arch model 62 are determined, and a region preliminarily specified in a three-dimensional image displayed on a display 5 is displaced on the basis of the coordinate changes thus determined.

Abstract: Where an arbitrary point on an image is designated in the field of a medical image, it is generally designated on a sectional image, and an arbitrary point on a three-dimensional image cannot be designated. According to the invention the orientation of the three-dimensional image is controlled in a first direction corresponding to the operation of the user. When an arbitrary point of the three-dimensional image is designated by the user, a plane passing through that point and normal to a display screen is created and stored. Next, the three-dimensional image is oriented in a second direction, and an arbitrary point is designated in the second direction by the user. Then, there is created a straight line which passes through that point and which is normal to the display screen. Then, the coordinates of the intersection the stored screen and the straight line are determined, and the point having the coordinates of the intersection point is displayed on the three-dimensional image.