Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a medical image processing method for manipulating a curve using a pointing device. The method includes: (a) accepting a first point on the curve specified by the pointing device; (b) reading a first time; (c) reading a second time when a point specified by the pointing device is moved to a second point from the first point; (d) determining a new curve based on a position of the second point, the second time, and the first time; (e) displaying said new curve; (f) reading a third time and a third point specified by the pointing device; (g) determining a further new curve based on a position of the third point, the third time, and the first time or the second time; and (h) displaying said further new curve.

Abstract: In a screen image for a user to operate other processing unit while one processing unit is in an editing state, icons of [A: EDITING-COMPLETE], [B: EDITING-HALT], [C: EDITING], [D: EDITING-COMPLETE], [E: EDITING-HALT (CALCULATING)] and [OPERATION GUI] are included. The [OPERATION GUI] shows a GUI for operating the processing unit corresponding to [C: EDITING] . In an image processing method, the “editing-halt” state can be provided, enabling the user to operate the other processing unit while one processing unit is in the editing state. Accordingly, while the user is operating a complicated processing unit such as a cardiac function analysis, the user can once stop editing the cardiac function analysis as required, and can execute a voxel value measurement, mask setting processing, etc., for example, and then can resume editing of the cardiac function analysis.

Abstract: A path 22 representing the center line of a curved cylinder 21 is acquired (step S1). The path 22 can be set by a GUI while a volume rendering image displayed on a display device is viewed. Alternatively, the path 22 can be set automatically when the curved cylinder 21 is designated as a subject of observation. Then, a region of the curved cylinder 21 is extracted as a subject pf observation with the path 22 used as the center (step S2). Then, sections 23 and 24 are generated as if the extracted region was cut open along the path 22 (step S3). In this case, the sections 23 and 24 are curved along the curvature of the curved cylinder 21. Accordingly, CPR images are synthesized on the curved sections (step S4).

Abstract: In an image processing system for generating an image of a three dimensional structure using a volume data, having a plurality of nodes coupled via a network, said one of plurality of nodes is constituted in combination with a control portion comprising at least a processor, a memory, and a communication control portion, said control portion is operative to segment each of a plurality of image processing requests into a plurality of jobs in an image processing operation that use the volume data, monitor a calculation resource amount for each of said plurality of nodes on the job accepting side to obtain a calculation resource information, said calculation resource information being calculated from at least any one of a current load factor, a performance record in the past, a node status specification, and a distance to the node on the network, select at least one node on the job accepting side based on said calculation resource information, and transmit one of said segmented jobs to said selected node.

Abstract: A threshold value T which is a little larger than voxel values of a target tissue such as bloodstream is determined. Next, a virtual ray is projected, and voxel values on the virtual ray are obtained as an array A1 (original array). Then, an array A2 (replaced array) is generated by the voxel values of the array A1 which are equal to or larger than the threshold value T are flipped-over at the threshold value T. Then, a part of the data on the array A2, e.g., flipped-over data corresponding to the center part of the calcified region is excluded. Next, a maximum value M2 on the array A2 is obtained, and a value M1 on the array A1 corresponding to the value M2 is obtained. Then, the value M1 is employed as a pixel value for the virtual ray.

Abstract: A method for improving the quality of a projection image. The method includes setting a plurality of rays that pass through voxels. Each ray corresponds to a pixel. The method further includes storing a plurality of pixel values, each associated with one of the voxels existing on each of the rays. The method also stores a plurality of coordinates, each corresponding to one of the pixel values, and determines a noise position in the voxels pixels based on the coordinates.

Abstract: A back projection method in CT image reconstruction method in which projection data obtained by irradiating a subject with electromagnetic wave and detecting the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the subject are back-projected onto a CT image reconstruction region virtually set on a region of interest of the subject, said back projection method comprising: generating a projected image redundant arrangement form in which the projection data are arranged so as to be redundant and gathered to access units; and performing a vector operation for the projection data arranged in the projected image redundant arrangement form. According to the back projection method of the invention, the vector operation can be performed efficiently while real-number arithmetic operation which is necessary for addressing can be omitted. Accordingly, back projection calculation can be performed speedily.

Abstract: One of the object of the present invention is to provide medical image display device and etc. that visualizes at least one volume data using a Raycast method, are provided with:a color acquisition function for acquiring color from voxel value, wherein at least two or more color acquisition functions are corresponding to at least one of the volume data; a color acquisition function calculating feature for calculating a new color acquisition function that corresponds to at least one of the color acquisition functions; and a visualization feature for visualizing the at least one volume data by the Raycast method using two or more color acquisition functions and, at least one of the color acquisition function is the new color acquisition function.

Abstract: An image processing device that quickly performs suitable image processing by using an input device to point at an image displayed on the medical image processing device, and makes it possible to readily observe medical images needed for a medical procedure. The medical image processing device includes: an input element by which medical information that includes at least patient information, and the image processing type that uses the medical image data is input; an extraction element for extracting combinations of the medical image data that conform to the patient information and the image processing type; an evaluating unit for evaluating out combinations of medical image data that have the highest possibility of being used; an information reporting unit for reporting of the combinations of medical image data and evaluating result information; and a selection unit for prompting a user to select the combination of medical image data.

Abstract: There is provided a medical image processing apparatus for creating an image according to a parameter and displaying the image on a rendering window. The medical image processing apparatus includes: a cursor control section for detecting whether or not a cursor exists in the rendering window; a icon control section for displaying an icon group near a cursor position in response to a specification operation if the cursor exists in the rendering window, wherein the icon group includes at least two icons and each of the icons represents one- or more-dimensional successive parameters of the image displayed on the rendering window; and a parameter control section for changing the parameters in response to a drag operation when the drag operation is performed with one of the icons as a start point.

Abstract: A method for designating a region of interest from volume data of a subject. When a user clicks a mouse to specify designation points, a CPU generates a curved surface including the designation points. The CPU executes a hidden surface removal process on the curved surface to generate a plotted region, sets a thickness for the plotted region, and determines the region of interest. The CPU performs MIP processing on the region of interest and a region of interest re-designating process on the MIP image. In the region of interest re-designating process, the user clicks the mouse on the MIP image, and the CPU determines the MIP position of the clicked position. The CPU sets the MIP position as a new designation point, and re-specifies a new region of interest by performing a region of interest designating process based on the new designation point.

Abstract: A virtual ray makes one revolution around an imaginary path with an umbrella-like elevation angle ? kept constant with respect to the imaginary path to thereby generate a projected image. When the virtual ray is radiated obliquely, a shaded portion of an inner wall surface of a tubular tissue can be observed clearly.

Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus using volume data includes display control means, processing control means and button placement means. The display control means displays an individual processing area and a common processing area. The individual processing area displays a first individual processing button group including a first command button to which a first command is assigned and a second individual processing button group including a second command button to which a second command is assigned. The common processing area displays a common processing button group including a common command button to which a common command is assigned. The processing control means executes the first command and then subsequently executes the common command, and executes the second command and then subsequently executes the common command. The button placement means places the first and second command buttons in the individual processing area or places common command buttons in the common processing area.

Abstract: An image processing method for specifying a region of interest encapsulating without omission a part of interest through a simple operation. Start and end points specified on a blood vessel center curve define the region of interest range of the blood vessel. A front point at the frontmost position and rear point at the rearmost position in the projection direction are determined based on a center axis from the start to end points. A front specified plane located frontward by a predetermined distance from a plane perpendicular to the projection direction and intersecting the front point is specified. A rear specified plane located rearward by a predetermined distance from a plane perpendicular to the projection direction and intersecting the rear point, is specified. A region of interest encapsulating the part of interest, without omission, between the front specified plane and the rear specified plane is defined.

Abstract: In an image processing method of visualizing information of a living body near an imaginary path, the image processing method includes: creating a cylindrical cross-sectional image on a cylindrical cross section defined by a reference distance from the imaginary path; creating a cylindrical projection image according to said imaginary path; combining the cylindrical cross-sectional image and the cylindrical projection image; and displaying the combined image.

Abstract: A rendering method for generating relation information of image data of three or more dimensions. The rendering method includes preparing an exfoliated picture generated by projecting voxels using cylindrical projection method with a center line, preparing position data of a cross-section and a cross-section image representing the cross-section of the image data, creating a hypothetical cylinder including position data using the center line, calculating relation information associating the hypothetical cylinder and the cross-section using position data of the hypothetical cylinder and position data of the cross-section, and synthesizing the relation information with at least one of the exfoliated picture and the cross-section image to generate a synthesized image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a predicted information storage section which stores predicted information that indicates an operation content predicted for an image of a target operation; a predicted image generating portion which generates a predicted image which corresponds to the image of the target operation based on a predicted information; a control section which detects whether input operation content matches the operation contents in the predicted information; and a display control section which displays a predicted image generated by the predicted image generating portion when the control section detects the matching of the operation contents.

Abstract: In a region correction method of correcting a three-dimensional region on volume data, the region correction method includes: (a) acquiring a first region as a guide and a second region as a work region; (b) rendering the first region and the second region separately from each other; (c) acquiring a third region specified by a user; and (d) adding a region resulting from AND operation of the third region and the first region into the second region or subtracting the region from the second region.

Abstract: An image display controlling apparatus for displaying three-dimensional information of an object to be examined on a display unit, includes: a planar image obtaining device; a display planar image designating device; a display limit information obtaining device; a display ability judgment device; a synthesis rate obtaining device; a synthesizing device for producing a synthesis image; and a display control device for displaying the synthesis image thus produced on the display device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing method capable of acquiring any image analysis processing result desired by the user in a short time. First, volume data is analyzed and a finite number of input candidates are created (step S11) and image analysis processing is performed using the input candidates (step S12). Next, the user is requested to select an input candidate (step S13) and the analysis result corresponding to the selected input candidate is displayed (step S14). Thus, according to an image processing method of the invention, user input is predicted, a finite number of input candidates are created, and image analysis is conducted using the input candidates, so that when the user selects an input candidate, immediately the analysis result corresponding to the selected input candidate can be displayed.