Patent ID: 7724936
Filing Date: 2010-05-25
Classification: G06K,G06T

Abstract:
1. An image generation apparatus comprising: classification means for classifying a plurality of segments, obtained by dividing a medical image generated by radiography of a chest of a subject and including structures having anatomic characteristics into a plurality of types of segments in such a manner that segments that include structures having a similar anatomic characteristic are classified into the same type of segments; and artificial image generation means for generating an artificial image of at least one of the plurality of segments, the artificial image including a normal structure and being generated based on the type of the at least one of the plurality of segments, wherein the classification means includes: wherein the classification means is configured to classify each of the plurality of segments into one of the plurality of types based on a position of each of the plurality of segments in a lung field, wherein said classification means further determines a number of ribs overlapping each of the plurality of segments, and the classification means further classifies the segments based on the number of ribs overlapping each segment.