Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, ultrasonic image processing apparatus, medical image diagnostic apparatus, and medical image processing apparatus

An ultrasonic image processing apparatus comprising:

• a memory which stores time-series volume data obtained by ultrasonic scanning a three-dimensional region, including at least a part of a heart, through an ultrasonic wave;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to:
• receive a setting of points, including at least three points, arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data,
• track each of the points three-dimensionally among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of an endocardium surface or an epicardium surface;
• calculate an area of a localized region on the endocardium surface or the epicardium surface for each of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, based on positions of the at least three of the tracked points;
• and
• calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated area of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• obtain time-series volume data by ultrasonic scanning a three-dimensional region including at least a part of a heart of a patient;
• receive a setting of points arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data;
• track each of the points among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of an endocardium surface and an epicardium surface;
• calculate volume of a localized region based on positions of tracked points of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, two facing surfaces of each of the localized region being local surfaces of the endocardium surface and the epicardium surface;
• and
• calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated volume of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• obtain time-series volume data by ultrasonic scanning a three-dimensional region including at least a part of a heart;
• receive a setting of points arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data;
• track each of the points among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of a part of the heart;
• calculate an area of a localized region on a curved surface of the heart based on positions of tracked points of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, the curved surface positioning between an endocardium surface and an epicardium surface of the heart;
• and
• calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated area of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat.

An ultrasonic image processing apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• a memory which stores time-series volume data for a three-dimensional region including at least a part of a heart;
• receive a setting of points arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data;
• track each of the points among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of an endocardium surface and an epicardium surface;
• calculate volume of a localized region based on positions of tracked points of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, two facing surfaces of each of the localized region being local surfaces of the endocardium surface and the epicardium surface;
• and
• calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated volume of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat.

An ultrasonic image processing apparatus comprising:

• a memory which stores time-series volume data for a three-dimensional region including at least a part of a heart;
• processing circuitry configured to:
• receive a setting of points arranged for at least one of the time-series volume data,
• track each of the points among remaining time-series volume data, wherein the points define an outline of a part of the heart;
• calculate an area of a localized region on a curved surface of the heart based on positions of tracked points of at least two time phases in a heartbeat, the curved surface positioning between an endocardium surface and an epicardium surface of the heart;
• and
• calculate a quantitative value, for evaluating movement of the localized region, based on the calculated area of the at least two time phases in the heartbeat.