Patent ID: 7639865

Claim:
An image processing apparatus for acquiring 3-dimensional data regarding a structural configuration of a subject by processing image data of the subject, comprising: a shape computing unit which calculates shape data which represent an outline of the subject, using projected image data of the subject acquired from a plurality of angles by a transmission electron microscope; a first integrating unit which integrates projected image data of the subject acquired by a transmission electron microscope, on said shape data; a distributing unit which generates gray-scale density-distributions by stretching and distributing densities shown in said projected image data respectively within angles along which said projected image data are captured; a second integrating unit which generates 3-dimensional gray-scale data, which express the subject with 3-dimensional image data, by integrating a plurality of said gray-scale density-distributions generated from a plurality of said projected image data captured from a plurality of angles, wherein said first integrating unit integrates said 3-dimensional gray-scale data by said second integrating unit on said shape data; and a data processing unit which generates 3-dimensional image data by extracting only density which exists in perimeter of a shape that said shape data represent, from said 3-dimensional gray-scale data.