Patent ID: 8965074
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: G01C,G06T,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a memory unit which stores data of a 3D image relating to a target blood vessel within a subject; a vector calculation unit which extracts a center axis of the target blood vessel using the data of the 3D image and calculates tangent vectors with respect to multiple points on the center axis; an angle calculation unit which calculates angles of the tangent vectors to a projection plane which is orthogonal to said center axis; a map generation unit which generates a color map as a projection image representing a direction of running of the target blood vessel by projecting volume data using the same view point, view angle and projection plane as those used in generating a projection image representing a blood vessel configuration; a display unit which displays the color map; and wherein the map generation unit assigns a color value, which corresponds to the calculated angle, to each of the multiple points.