# US 11,443,497 B2 · Medical image processing apparatus, medical image processing system, medical image processing method, and recording medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,443,497 B2 - Document ID: US11443497B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/985,316 - Filed: 2020-08-05 - Published: 2021-02-11 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-06 - Assignees: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Inventors: Shintaro Funabasama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11443497B2 ## CPC - G06T 19/20: Editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts - A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]} - A61B 6/505: {for diagnosis of bone} - G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing - G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems - G16H 50/30: for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment - G16H 50/50: for simulation or modelling of medical disorders - G06T 2200/04: involving 3D image data - G06T 2210/41: Medical - G06T 2219/008: Cut plane or projection plane definition - G06T 2219/2021: Shape modification - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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. The processing circuitry is configured to set a curved plane between a first bone region and a second bone region included in a joint, in three-dimensional medical image data obtained by imaging the joint including at least the first bone region and the second bone region. The processing circuitry is configured to reshape at least one of the first and the second bone regions along extension of the curved plane to obtain a reshaped bone region. The processing circuitry is configured to generate display-purpose image data on the basis of the reshaped bone region resulting from the reshaping. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical image processing apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured: to set a curved plane between a first bone region and a second bone region included in a joint, in three-dimensional medical image data obtained by imaging the joint including at least the first bone region and the second bone region; to planarly reshape at least one of the first and the second bone regions along extension of the curved plane to obtain a reshaped bone region; and to generate display-purpose image data on a basis of the reshaped bone region resulting from the planarly reshaping. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, as the display-purpose image data, the processing circuitry generates image data obtained by mapping a first index value indicating a degree of an interval between the first bone region and the second bone region, on one selected from between: a flat plane obtained by extending the curved plane; and a surface of the reshaped bone region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, as the first index value, the processing circuitry calculates at least one of: a distance to a surface of an opposing bone region; a longest distance between the bone regions among a plurality of temporal phases; a shortest distance between the bone regions among a plurality of temporal phases; an average distance between the bone regions among a plurality of temporal phases; a length of time during which the distance between the bone regions is equal to or shorter than a threshold value among a plurality of temporal phases; and a difference in bone region distances between mutually-different temporal phases. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, as the display-purpose image data, the processing circuitry generates image data obtained by mapping a second index value indicating characteristics of the bone region, on one selected from between: a flat plane obtained by extending the curved plane; and a surface of the reshaped bone region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the display-purpose image data, the processing circuitry displays identification information for identifying a bone opposing a depicted bone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, from the first and the second bone regions, the processing circuitry identifies proximate regions that are present within a predetermined distance from each other and sets the curved plane in a middle of the proximate region from the first bone region and the proximate region from the second bone region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processing circuitry reshapes the proximate regions along the extension of the curved plane, but does not reshape regions other than the proximate regions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry receives an input operation from an operator designating an arbitrary region in the first and the second bone regions and reshapes a region other than the designated region, without reshaping the designated region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical image processing apparatus is a medical image diagnosis apparatus. ### Claim 10 A medical image processing system including a terminal operated by an operator and a server apparatus capable of communicating with the terminal, the medical image processing system comprising processing circuitry configured: to set a curved plane between a first bone region and a second bone region included in a joint, in three-dimensional medical image data obtained by imaging the joint including at least the first bone region and the second bone region; to planarly reshape at least one of the first and the second bone regions along extension of the curved plane to obtain a reshaped bone region; and to generate display-purpose image data on a basis of the reshaped bone region resulting from the planarly reshaping. ### Claim 11 A computer program product which includes a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium comprising a plurality of computer-executable instructions that cause a computer to execute: setting a curved plane between a first bone region and a second bone region included in a joint, in three-dimensional medical image data obtained by imaging the joint including at least the first bone region and the second bone region; planarly reshaping at least one of the first and the second bone regions along extension of the curved plane to obtain a reshaped bone region; and generating display-purpose image data on a basis of the reshaped bone region resulting from the planarly reshaping. ### Claim 12 A medical image processing method comprising: setting a curved plane between a first bone region and a second bone region included in a joint, in three-dimensional medical image data obtained by imaging the joint including at least the first bone region and the second bone region; planarly reshaping at least one of the first and the second bone regions along extension of the curved plane to obtain a reshaped bone region; and generating display-purpose image data on a basis of the reshaped bone region resulting from the planarly reshaping.