Image processing apparatus and image processing method

Abstract

The present invention is directed to providing an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that assist an observer of a time-series image in performing smooth observation while attracting attention of the observer. An image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image input unit that inputs a time-series image; an information acquiring unit that acquires information on a region of interest in the time-series image; a figure calculating unit that calculates a polygon or an ellipse surrounding the region of interest and having an area smaller than or equal to an area of a circumscribed rectangle, the circumscribed rectangle being a rectangle circumscribing the region of interest and formed of two sides parallel to a horizontal axis of the time-series image and other two sides parallel to a vertical axis of the time-series image; and a display control unit that causes a display apparatus to display a figure such that the figure is superimposed on the time-series image, the figure being based on the polygon or the ellipse and being disposed at sides or vertexes of the polygon or disposed on a circumference of the ellipse or at a plurality of positions on the circumference.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.