Image processing apparatus, image processing system, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium

An image processing apparatus comprising a processor comprising hardware, the processor being configured to:

• acquire a first wavelength image and a second wavelength image, the first wavelength image being generated by irradiating a stage configured to transmit light with illumination light in a predetermined wavelength band and by capturing light that has passed through the stage, the second wavelength image being generated by irradiating a specimen that is in a state of being mounted on the stage with the illumination light in the predetermined wavelength band and by capturing light that has passed through the stage and the specimen, the specimen being obtained from a biopsy and including a core tissue;
• calculate a spectral transmittance image based on the first wavelength image and the second wavelength image;
• calculate a spectral vector of each of pixels included in the spectral transmittance image;
• classify each of the pixels included in the spectral transmittance image into at least two or more groups based on a degree of similarity between the spectral vector of each of the pixels and a reference vector;
• set, from among a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing the spectral transmittance image into each of predetermined pixels, an area of a block that has a large number of pixels that belongs to a group that has a high degree of similarity to the reference vector as a reference area;
• extract an area of the spectral transmittance image having spectral transmittance similar to spectral transmittance of the reference area as a core tissue area of the core tissue;
• and
• calculate an amount of the core tissue area.

An image processing method performed by an image processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• acquiring a first wavelength image and a second wavelength image, the first wavelength image being generated by irradiating a stage configured to transmit light with illumination light in a predetermined wavelength band and by capturing light that has passed through the stage, the second wavelength image being generated by irradiating a specimen that is in a state of being mounted on the stage with the illumination light in the predetermined wavelength band and by capturing light that has passed through the stage and the specimen, the specimen being obtained from a biopsy and including a core tissue;
• calculating a spectral transmittance image based on the first wavelength image and the second wavelength image;
• causing a display to display at least one of the spectral transmittance image and the second wavelength image as a display image;
• extracting, based on a designation signal for designating a reference area in the display image, an area of the spectral transmittance image having spectral transmittance similar to spectral transmittance of the reference area as a core tissue area of the core tissue;
• and
• calculating an amount of the core tissue area.

An image processing method performed by an image processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• acquiring a first wavelength image and a second wavelength image, the first wavelength image being generated by irradiating a stage configured to transmit light with illumination light in a predetermined wavelength band and by capturing light that has passed through the stage, the second wavelength image being generated by irradiating a specimen that is in a state of being mounted on the stage with the illumination light in the predetermined wavelength band and by capturing light that has passed through the stage and the specimen, the specimen being obtained from a biopsy and including a core tissue;
• calculating a spectral transmittance image based on the first wavelength image and the second wavelength image;
• calculating a spectral vector of each of pixels included in the spectral transmittance image;
• classifying each of the pixels included in the spectral transmittance image into at least two or more groups based on a degree of similarity between the spectral vector of each of the pixels and a reference vector;
• setting, from among a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing the spectral transmittance image into each of predetermined pixels, an area of a block that has a large number of pixels that belongs to a group that has a high degree of similarity to the reference vector as a reference area;
• extracting an area of the spectral transmittance image having spectral transmittance similar to spectral transmittance of the reference area as a core tissue area of the core tissue;
• and
• calculating an amount of the core tissue area.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with an executable program stored thereon, the program causing an image processing apparatus to perform:

• acquiring a first wavelength image and a second wavelength image, the first wavelength image being generated by irradiating a stage configured to transmit light with illumination light in a predetermined wavelength band and by capturing light that has passed through the stage, the second wavelength image being generated by irradiating a specimen that is in a state of being mounted on the stage with the illumination light in the predetermined wavelength band and by capturing light that has passed through the stage and the specimen, the specimen being obtained from a biopsy and including a core tissue;
• calculating a spectral transmittance image based on the first wavelength image and the second wavelength image;
• causing a display to display at least one of the spectral transmittance image and the second wavelength image as a display image;
• extracting, based on a designation signal for designating a reference area in the display image, an area of the spectral transmittance image having spectral transmittance similar to spectral transmittance of the reference area as a core tissue area of the core tissue;
• and
• calculating an amount of the core tissue area.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with an executable program stored thereon, the program causing an image processing apparatus to perform:

• acquiring a first wavelength image and a second wavelength image, the first wavelength image being generated by irradiating a stage configured to transmit light with illumination light in a predetermined wavelength band and by capturing light that has passed through the stage, the second wavelength image being generated by irradiating a specimen that is in a state of being mounted on the stage with the illumination light in the predetermined wavelength band and by capturing light that has passed through the stage and the specimen, the specimen being obtained from a biopsy and including a core tissue;
• calculating a spectral transmittance image based on the first wavelength image and the second wavelength image;
• calculating a spectral vector of each of pixels included in the spectral transmittance image;
• classifying each of the pixels included in the spectral transmittance image into at least two or more groups based on a degree of similarity between the spectral vector of each of the pixels and a reference vector;
• setting, from among a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing the spectral transmittance image into each of predetermined pixels, an area of a block that has a large number of pixels that belongs to a group that has a high degree of similarity to the reference vector as a reference area;
• extracting an area of the spectral transmittance image having spectral transmittance similar to spectral transmittance of the reference area as a core tissue area of the core tissue;
• and
• calculating an amount of the core tissue area.