Patent ID: 8774483
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus comprising: an organ recognition algorithm executing unit that applies an organ recognition algorithm for recognizing a target organ to medical image volume data including data for a target organ to generate and output, as an organ recognition result, structural information on the target organ; and a recognition result displaying unit that displays the organ recognition result output from the organ recognition algorithm executing unit on a display device, the image processing apparatus using the predetermined image processing algorithm to perform an image processing of the medical image volume data, the image processing apparatus comprising: a recognition result judging unit that acquires, via an input device, judgment information as to whether or not the structural information is correct enough for the target organ to be properly recognized; and an organ recognition algorithm revising unit that acquires the judgment information from the recognition result judging unit, changes reference information on the target organ according to the acquired judgment information and modifies, if the reference information is changed, the organ recognition algorithm so as to recognize the target organ by using the changed reference information; wherein the recognition result judging unit comprises a continuity judging unit that acquires a differential image indicating a difference in a number of pixels between adjacent tomographic images corresponding to the medical image volume data generating the structural information on a portion of the target organ, the portion having been judged to be a recognized region, to judge continuity between the tomographic images based on the number of pixels in the differential image, and wherein the recognition result displaying unit performs a two- or three-dimensional visualization of the region judged to be continuous by the continuity judging unit.