Patent ID: 8526690
Filing Date: 2013-09-03
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a detection region setting section, for setting detection regions within three dimensional images obtained by imaging subjects; a principal axis/normal line direction calculating section, for calculating one of the directions of the principal axes of candidate target tissues formed by linear structures within the detection regions or the directions of lines normal to candidate target tissues formed by planar structures within the detection regions; a normalization processing section, for administering normalizing processes which cut candidate target regions of a predetermined three dimensional shape along one of the directions of the principal axes or the directions of the normal lines, wherein each of the candidate target regions includes the candidate tissue which is scaled into a predetermined size and located along a predetermined direction; and a judging section, for calculating features of the normalized candidate target regions, and for judging whether target tissues are included in the candidate target regions using the calculated features.