Abstract: A functional image generating section that generates a functional image that represents the functions of a subject, based on 3D medical image data obtained by imaging the subject; a projected 3D image generating section that generates a projected 3D image that represents the appearance of the subject, based on the 3D medical image data; a display control section that displays the functional image and the projected 3D image; and a specified position data obtaining section that obtains position data regarding a position specified within the functional image, are provided. The projected 3D image generating section generates the projected 3D image which is projected in a projection direction such that a position within the projected 3D image corresponding to the specified position faces forward, based on the position data. The display control section displays the projected 3D image having the projection direction.

Abstract: Endoscopic images and virtual endoscopic images are obtained. Then, an endoscopic image captured at a predetermined position of the anatomical structure is extracted from the obtained endoscopic images, and a comparative virtual endoscopic image virtually generated as if it is captured at a position corresponding to the predetermined position is extracted from the obtained virtual endoscopic images, and the extracted images are associated with each other. A three-dimensional position corresponding to each pixel forming the endoscopic image captured at the predetermined position is calculated based on a three-dimensional position of each pixel forming the comparative virtual endoscopic image. Then, volume data is generated from the endoscopic image captured at the predetermined position based on a pixel value of each pixel forming the endoscopic image and the three-dimensional position calculated for each pixel.

Abstract: When generating a projection image by setting a plurality of search points in an intended display area of a three-dimensional image along a plurality of visual lines, each connecting each pixel on a projection plane on which the three-dimensional image is projected and an arbitrary viewpoint, calculating a pixel value of each search point by an interpolation operation based on pixel values of adjacent pixels of each search point, and determining a pixel value of each pixel on the projection plane with respect to each visual line based on the calculated pixel value of each search point, if an adjacent pixel of a search point is a pixel in an unintended display area, the pixel value of the search point is calculated such that the pixel value of the pixel in the unintended display area does not contribute to the calculation, thereby preventing an artifact arising from the unintended display area.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image representing a patient's organ is obtained. The organ is extracted from the three-dimensional image. A treatment portion, at which desirable treatment for the organ is performed, on a surface of the organ is obtained. A pattern model including an outer surface, an inner surface having a surface form along an organ's outer surface of the organ, a guide wall connecting, along the treatment portion, the outer surface and the inner surface, and a positioning portion is generated. The positioning portion positions a predetermined imaging probe in such a manner that a tomographic image of a cross section of the organ including a target portion of the organ is imageable when the guide wall is arranged along the treatment portion on the organ.

Abstract: In an image processing method for generating a pseudo three-dimensional image by a volume rendering method in which a pixel value of each pixel on a projection plane on which a three-dimensional image illuminated by an arbitrary light source is projected is determined using a brightness value at each examination point, which is a point on the three-dimensional image sampled along each of a plurality of visual lines connecting an arbitrary viewpoint and each pixel on the projection plane, an illuminance level at each examination point is calculated based on an opacity level at each calculation point, which is a point on the three-dimensional image sampled along each of a plurality of light rays connecting the light source and each examination point, and the brightness value at each examination point is determined based on the calculated illuminance level.

Abstract: A diagnostic index that indicates a condition of obesity of an abdominal area of a human body with improved reliability is provided. For slice images representing two or more cross-sections of an abdominal area of a subject, a ratio of a size of the subcutaneous fat region and the visceral fat region in the abdominal area to the abdominal area is calculated. Then, the ratio obtained for the subject is compared with a corresponding ratio obtained in advance for a human body model to acquire the diagnostic index indicating the condition of obesity of the subject.

Abstract: When generating a projection image which is an image formed of image information on a plurality of visual lines viewing a first structure in a three-dimensional medical image from a given viewpoint being projected on a given projection plane, setting an assumed position of a treatment tool in the three-dimensional image, detecting a surface of the first structure from the three-dimensional medical image, identifying a second structure in the three-dimensional medical image located at a position masked by the first structure, detecting an intersection point between an assumed path formed when the treatment tool is moved from the assumed position towards the second structure and the surface of the first structure, and displaying the intersection point in an identifiable manner at a position to which image information on a visual line connecting the viewpoint and the intersection point is projected.

Abstract: A pseudo three dimensional image is generated, based on an aspect image and a mapping image generated from an original three dimensional image, using a volume rendering method. A mapping image that represents the functions of a subject is generated using first voxel data that constitute an original three dimensional medical image of the subject. An aspect image is generated using second voxel data that constitute an original three dimensional medical image of the subject. A position matching means causes positions within a heart represented by the mapping image to correspond to positions within a heart represented by the aspect image. An image generating means executes volume rendering based on degrees of opacity within the mapping image, to generate the pseudo three dimensional image.

Abstract: When generating an intermediate image which is an image in the middle of changing from one to the other of two pseudo three-dimensional images generated by ray casting a three-dimensional image from an arbitrary viewpoint under two different opacity level setting conditions, determining an opacity level setting condition by determining an opacity level to be allocated according to each pixel value such that a variation in the opacity level for a change in a changing phase of the intermediate image become smaller as the changing phase approaches closer to a pseudo three-dimensional image generated under either one of the two different opacity level setting conditions in which a smaller value is allocated as the opacity level to be allocated according to each pixel value, and generating an intermediate image by ray casting the three-dimensional image from an arbitrary viewpoint under the determined opacity level setting condition.

Abstract: An information reading apparatus that reads information from an image. The apparatus includes: an acquiring module, a first processing module, a second processing module, and an adding module. The acquiring module acquires a whole image containing plural reading subjects. The first processing module performs processing of extracting particular patterns from the respective reading subjects by performing a pattern analysis on the whole image to identify the reading subjects contained in the whole image. The second processing module performs processing of reading pieces of information from the respective reading subjects and recognizing the read-out pieces of information by analyzing the respective particular patterns extracted by the first processing module. The adding module adds current processing statuses for the respective reading subjects contained in the whole image based on at least one of sets of processing results of the first processing module and the second processing module.

Abstract: Endoscopic images and virtual endoscopic images are obtained. Then, an endoscopic image captured at a predetermined position of the anatomical structure is extracted from the obtained endoscopic images, and a comparative virtual endoscopic image virtually generated as if it is captured at a position corresponding to the predetermined position is extracted from the obtained virtual endoscopic images, and the extracted images are associated with each other. A three-dimensional position corresponding to each pixel forming the endoscopic image captured at the predetermined position is calculated based on a three-dimensional position of each pixel forming the comparative virtual endoscopic image. Then, volume data is generated from the endoscopic image captured at the predetermined position based on a pixel value of each pixel forming the endoscopic image and the three-dimensional position calculated for each pixel.

Abstract: Structures in the vicinity of a target point (point of interest) within a diagnostic image are enabled to be observed in detail from multiple directions. Overview images (8, 9) that represent the overview of a structure (e.g., the large intestine) are generated based on volume data, and displayed on the screen (5) of a display. Points within the overview images and points corresponding thereto in the volume data are set as target points. Target volumes that include the target points and line of sight vectors within the volume data having the target points as endpoints and a movable viewpoint as a starting point are set within the volume data. The directions of the line of sight vectors are changed, and the target volumes are projected onto projection planes perpendicular to the directions of the line of sight vectors to generate detailed images (11) that represent details of the structure in the vicinity of the target points .

Abstract: Using first voxel data of a three-dimensional medical image obtained by photographing a subject, a functional image representing a function of a heart in at least one position is generated, and using a portion of second voxel data of a three-dimensional medical image obtained by photographing the subject corresponding to an area which includes a blood vessel along an outer myocardial wall of the heart, a morphological image depicting morphology of the blood vessel is generated. Then, the functional image and the morphological image are displayed in a superimposing manner such that at least one position of the heart in the functional image corresponds to at least one position of the heart in the morphological image.

Abstract: A position obtainment means obtains the positions of points in the heart of a subject that are present in at least two three-dimensional volume datasets in a group of three-dimensional volume datasets that have been obtained by imaging the heart of the subject at predetermined time intervals, the points anatomically corresponding to each other, and the at least two three-dimensional volume datasets having been obtained by imaging at different time from each other. A function information obtainment means obtains, based on each of the positions of the points in the heart, which have been obtained by the position obtainment means, function information representing the function of the heart at each point within a three-dimensional space. A display means displays, based on the function information, the motion function of the heart at each of the points in an image that has the shape of the heart of the subject.

Abstract: In generating a virtual endoscopic image, an interior of a lumen is made viewable even when the viewpoint position is changed. A virtual endoscopic image generation element generates a virtual endoscopic image by volume rendering based on three-dimensional data. An opacity curve setting element sets an opacity curve which defines the relationship between pixel values of the three-dimensional data and opacity values. A viewpoint position setting element sets a viewpoint position of a virtual endoscopic image. A movement amount determination element determines a movement amount of the opacity curve with respect to an opacity curve at a reference viewpoint position. When a virtual endoscopic image is generated by the virtual endoscopic image generation element, the opacity curve setting element sets an opacity curve obtained by moving the opacity curve by the determined movement amount in the virtual endoscopic image generation element.

Abstract: When generating a projection image which is an image formed of image information on a plurality of visual lines viewing a first structure in a three-dimensional medical image from a given viewpoint being projected on a given projection plane, setting an assumed position of a treatment tool in the three-dimensional image, detecting a surface of the first structure from the three-dimensional medical image, identifying a second structure in the three-dimensional medical image located at a position masked by the first structure, detecting an intersection point between an assumed path formed when the treatment tool is moved from the assumed position towards the second structure and the surface of the first structure, and displaying the intersection point in an identifiable manner at a position to which image information on a visual line connecting the viewpoint and the intersection point is projected.

Abstract: When generating a projection image by setting a plurality of search points in an intended display area of a three-dimensional image along a plurality of visual lines, each connecting each pixel on a projection plane on which the three-dimensional image is projected and an arbitrary viewpoint, calculating a pixel value of each search point by an interpolation operation based on pixel values of adjacent pixels of each search point, and determining a pixel value of each pixel on the projection plane with respect to each visual line based on the calculated pixel value of each search point, if an adjacent pixel of a search point is a pixel in an unintended display area, the pixel value of the search point is calculated such that the pixel value of the pixel in the unintended display area does not contribute to the calculation, thereby preventing an artifact arising from the unintended display area.

Abstract: Projection is performed in such a manner that the same point on a moving internal organ can be constantly observed, thereby improving the accuracy of diagnosis. Motion information about the motion of a projection target between one set of three-dimensional volume data in a group of sets of three-dimensional volume data and a different set of three-dimensional volume data in the group of sets of three-dimensional volume data that was obtained by imaging at a different time from the time of imaging of the one set of three-dimensional volume data is obtained based on the projection target that is present in the one set of three-dimensional volume data and the projection target that is present in the different set of three-dimensional volume data. Then, the viewpoint of projection is moved to a position at which the projection target in the different set of three-dimensional volume data can be projected.

Abstract: When generating an intermediate image which is an image in the middle of changing from one to the other of two pseudo three-dimensional images generated by ray casting a three-dimensional image from an arbitrary viewpoint under two different opacity level setting conditions, determining an opacity level setting condition by determining an opacity level to be allocated according to each pixel value such that a variation in the opacity level for a change in a changing phase of the intermediate image become smaller as the changing phase approaches closer to a pseudo three-dimensional image generated under either one of the two different opacity level setting conditions in which a smaller value is allocated as the opacity level to be allocated according to each pixel value, and generating an intermediate image by ray casting the three-dimensional image from an arbitrary viewpoint under the determined opacity level setting condition.

Abstract: Using first voxel data of a three-dimensional medical image obtained by photographing a subject, a functional image representing a function of a heart in at least one position is generated, and using a portion of second voxel data of a three-dimensional medical image obtained by photographing the subject corresponding to an area which includes a blood vessel along an outer myocardial wall of the heart, a morphological image depicting morphology of the blood vessel is generated. Then, the functional image and the morphological image are displayed in a superimposing manner such that at least one position of the heart in the functional image corresponds to at least one position of the heart in the morphological image.