# US 10,863,961 B2 · Medical image processing apparatus and X-ray diagnosis apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,961 B2 - Document ID: US10863961B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/294,961 - Filed: 2019-03-07 - Published: 2019-09-12 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-07 - Assignees: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Inventors: Shumpei Ohashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863961B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/5205: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data} - A61B 6/4441: {the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm} - A61B 6/481: {involving the use of contrast agents} - A61B 6/486: {involving generating temporal series of image data} - A61B 6/5217: {extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data} - G06T 5/50: using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction - G06T 5/94: based on local image properties, e.g. for local contrast enhancement - G16H 50/30: for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment - A61B 6/02: Arrangements for diagnosis sequentially in different planes; Stereoscopic radiation diagnosis - A61B 6/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display} - A61B 6/504: {for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography} - A61B 6/5264: {due to motion} - A61B 6/54: {Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis} - G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection} - G06T 2207/10016: Video; Image sequence - G06T 2207/10116: X-ray image - G06T 2207/30004: Biomedical image processing - G06T 2207/30104: Vascular flow; Blood flow; Perfusion - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry configured: to sequentially acquire X-ray images; to set a unit number of frames used as a unit during image processing; and to sequentially generate images in each of which a pixel value of each pixel expresses either the largest pixel value or the smallest pixel value among corresponding pixels in X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames, on the basis of the X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames including each of new X-ray image that is sequentially acquired and at least one X-ray image acquired before the new X-ray image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical image processing apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured: to sequentially acquire X-ray images; to set a unit number of frames used as a unit during image processing; and to sequentially generate images in each of which a pixel value of each pixel expresses either a largest pixel value or a smallest pixel value among corresponding pixels in X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames, on a basis of the X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames including each of new X-ray image that is sequentially acquired and at least one X-ray image acquired before the new X-ray image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry sets a unit time period used as a unit during the image processing and sets the unit number of frames on a basis of the unit time period and a framerate of the X-ray images. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry sets the unit time period by receiving an input operation indicating the unit time period. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry sets the unit number of frames in accordance with a region of a subject rendered in the X-ray images. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry evaluates degree of a movement of a region of a subject rendered in the X-ray images and further sets the unit number of frames in accordance with the evaluated degree of the movement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the processing circuitry evaluates the degree of the movement, on a basis of the X-ray images in which the subject is rendered while having no contrast agent injected in blood vessels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry sets the unit number of frames by receiving an input operation indicating the unit number of frames. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry sequentially acquires the X-ray images acquired by an X-ray diagnosis apparatus, and the processing circuitry sequentially generates the images in each of which the pixel value of each pixel expresses either the largest pixel value or the smallest pixel value, for groups each being made up of X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames and each including the new X-ray image and one or more X-ray images acquired immediately before the new X-ray image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry acquires the X-ray images in which a subject is rendered while having a contrast agent injected in blood vessels, and in accordance with a type of the contrast agent, the processing circuitry generates one selected from between the images in each of which the pixel value of each pixel expresses the largest pixel value and the images in each of which the pixel value of each pixel expresses the smallest pixel value, for groups each made up of X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry acquires the type of the contrast agent by receiving an input operation from an operator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry generates, in case the contrast agent is gaseous contrast agent, the images in each of which the pixel value of each pixel expresses the largest pixel value, for groups each made up of X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry generates, in case the contrast agent is carbon dioxide, the images in each of which the pixel value of each pixel expresses the largest pixel value, for groups each made up of X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a memory configured to store therein the images generated by the processing circuitry. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the X-ray images is an image acquired by subtracting a mask image acquired by using X-rays while no contrast agent is injected in a subject, from a contrast image acquired by using X-rays while a contrast agent is injected in the subject. ### Claim 15 A medical image processing apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store therein time series X-ray images; and processing circuitry configured: to set a unit number of frames used as a unit during image processing; and to generate an image in which a pixel value of each pixel expresses either a largest pixel value or a smallest pixel value among corresponding pixels in X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames, while using each of a plurality of consecutive frames included in the X-ray images in the time series as a target frame, on a basis of the X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames including the X-ray image in the target frame that is among the time series X-ray images and at least one X-ray image acquired before the X-ray image in the target frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry sets a unit time period used as a unit during the image processing and sets the unit number of frames on a basis of the unit time period and a framerate of the X-ray images. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry sets the unit number of frames in accordance with a region of a subject rendered in the X-ray images. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry evaluates degree of a movement of a region of a subject rendered in the X-ray images and further sets the unit number of frames in accordance with the evaluated degree of the movement. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An X-ray diagnosis apparatus comprising: an X-ray tube configured to radiate X-rays; an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-rays radiated by the X-ray tube; and the medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry configured: to sequentially acquire X-ray images based on an output of the X-ray detector; to set a unit number of frames used as a unit during image processing; and to sequentially generate images in each of which a pixel value of each pixel expresses either a largest pixel value or a smallest pixel value among corresponding pixels in X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames, on a basis of the X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames including each of new X-ray image that are sequentially acquired and at least one X-ray image acquired before the new X-ray image. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) An X-ray diagnosis apparatus comprising: an X-ray tube configured to radiate X-rays; an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-rays radiated by the X-ray tube; and the medical image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry sequentially acquires X-ray images based on an output of the X-ray detector; the memory stores therein time series X-ray images acquired by the processing circuitry; and the processing circuitry sets a unit number of frames used as a unit during image processing, to sequentially acquire X-ray images based on an output of the X-ray detector, and generates an image in which a pixel value of each pixel expresses either a largest pixel value or a smallest pixel value among corresponding pixels in X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames, while using each of a plurality of consecutive frames included in the X-ray images in the time series as a target frame, on a basis of the X-ray images corresponding to the unit number of frames including the X-ray image in the target frame that is among the X-ray images in the time series and at least one X-ray image acquired before the X-ray image in the target frame.