Abstract: A tracking processing unit performs tracking processing for a plurality of states during a tracking period and, on the basis of a plurality of tracking results obtained from the tracking processing for the plurality of states, tracks the movement of a measurement point during the tracking period. In addition, with regard to a plurality of tracking points that comprise the measurement point and an auxiliary point, the tracking processing unit performs tracking processing for each tracking point during the tracking period and, on the basis of a plurality of tracking results obtained from the plurality of tracking points, tracks the movement of the measurement point during the tracking period.

Abstract: In the present invention, a reference frame selection unit selects a reference frame from among a sequence of frames showing the heart of a fetus. A candidate region group setting unit sets a candidate region group for each of the frames that constitute the sequence of frames. A correlation value calculation unit calculates, for each candidate region, a correlation value between the reference frame and all the other frames. Due to this, a plurality of correlation value waveforms corresponding to the plurality of candidate regions is generated. A stabilized waveform portion specification unit specifies a stabilized waveform portion for each correlation value waveform. A stabilized region specification unit specifies, from among the plurality of stabilized waveform portions, the stabilized waveform portion having the highest degree of stabilization (in other words, the candidate region having the highest degree of stabilization).

Abstract: An image processing unit (20) performs resolution conversion processing on an ultrasound image obtained on the basis of a reception signal, to generate a plurality of resolution images having mutually different resolutions. Furthermore, the image processing unit (20) performs non-linear processing on a difference image obtained by comparing the plurality of resolution images with each other, to generate boundary components related to boundaries included in the image. Moreover, a boundary-enhanced image is generated by performing enhancement processing on the ultrasound image on the basis of the generated boundary components.

Abstract: A diagnostic coordinate system has first through third axes based on a major axis and a minor axis of a follicle, the origin being the position of the center of gravity of the follicle. The diagnostic coordinate system is translated with respect to an XYZ display coordinate system, rotating the diagnostic coordinate system until the first axis corresponding to the major axis of the follicle overlaps the X-axis where the angle with the first axis is smallest, and rotating until the second axis corresponding to the minor axis of the follicle overlaps the Z-axis where the angle with the second axis is smallest. A tomographic image of the follicle is formed by an image in a plane that includes the Z and X axes, an image in a plane that includes the Y and Z axes, and an image in a plane that includes the X and Y axes.

Abstract: A parameter calculating unit calculates a parameter value at each time through an interpolation process based on a parameter value at a telediastole stored in a telediastole memory and a parameter value at a telesystole stored in a telesystole memory. An interpolation coefficient memory stores an interpolation coefficient which is used for the interpolation process. When the parameter calculating unit calculates, for each parameter, parameter values of the times from telediastole to the telesystole, a region-of-interest setting unit sets, for each time, a three-dimensional region of interest in the three-dimensional data space based on the plurality of parameters. With this process, a three-dimensional region of interest which dynamically changes from the telediastole to the telesystole is set in the three-dimensional data space.

Abstract: A parameter calculating unit calculates a parameter value at each time through an interpolation process based on a parameter value at a telediastole stored in a telediastole memory and a parameter value at a telesystole stored in a telesystole memory. An interpolation coefficient memory stores an interpolation coefficient which is used for the interpolation process. When the parameter calculating unit calculates, for each parameter, parameter values of the times from telediastole to the telesystole, a region-of-interest setting unit sets, for each time, a three-dimensional region of interest in the three-dimensional data space based on the plurality of parameters. With this process, a three-dimensional region of interest which dynamically changes from the telediastole to the telesystole is set in the three-dimensional data space.