Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a memory storing a program;
• and
• one or more processors which, by executing the program, function as a plurality of units comprising:
• (1) a spectral image signal acquisition unit configured to a acquire a single spectral image signal by performing a common calculation processing on both of (a) a first photoacoustic signal obtained by irradiating an object with light of a first wavelength and (b) a second photoacoustic signal obtained by irradiating the object with light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, wherein the common calculation processing includes a common formula using both of the first photoacoustic signal and the second photoacoustic signal, and wherein as a result of the common calculation processing, the single spectral image signal has (a) a first numerical value range corresponding to the contrast agent, (b) a second numerical value range corresponding to oxyhemoglobin, and (c) a third numerical value range corresponding to deoxyhemoglobin;
• (2) a region determination unit configured to (a) determine a region of the single spectral image signal having the first numerical value range in the single spectral image signal as a lymphatic vessel region, (b) determine a region of the single spectral image signal having the second numerical value range in the single spectral image signal as an artery region, and (c) determine a region of the single spectral image signal having the third numeral value range in the single spectral image signal as a vein region;
• and
• (3) a display control unit configured to allocate different colors to image values of the single spectral image signal included in the first numerical value range, the second numerical value range, and the third numerical value range and to display the single spectral image signal in which the lymphatic vessel region, the artery region, and the vein region are displayed in the different colors to be distinguishable from each other,
• wherein the first wavelength and the second wavelength are set such that the first numerical value range, the second numerical value range, and the third numerical value range are different from one another.

An image processing method comprising:

• acquiring a single spectral image signal by performing a common calculation processing on both of (a) a first photoacoustic signal obtained by irradiating an object with light of a first wavelength and (b) a second photoacoustic signal obtained by irradiating the object with light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, wherein the common calculation processing includes a common formula using both of the first photoacoustic signal and the second photoacoustic signal, and wherein as a result of the common calculation processing, the single spectral image signal has (a) a first numerical value range corresponding to the contrast agent, (b) a second numerical value range corresponding to oxyhemoglobin, and (c) a third numerical value range corresponding to deoxyhemoglobin;
• determining a region of the single spectral image signal having the first numerical value range in the single spectral image signal as a lymphatic vessel region;
• determining a region of the single spectral image signal having the second numerical value range in the single spectral image signal as an artery region;
• determining a region of the single spectral image signal having the third numerical value range in the single spectral image signal as a vein region;
• and
• displaying the single spectral image signal in a manner based on image values of the single spectral image signal included in the first numerical value range, the second numerical value range, and the third numerical value range such that the lymphatic vessel region, the artery region, and the vein region are distinguishable from each other,
• wherein the acquiring comprises setting the first wavelength and the second wavelength such that the first numerical value range, the second numerical value range, and the third numerical value range are different from one another.

An image processing method comprising:

• acquiring a single spectral image signal by performing a common calculation processing on both of (a) a first photoacoustic signal obtained by irradiating an object with light of a first wavelength and (b) a second photoacoustic signal obtained by irradiating the object with light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, wherein the common calculation processing includes a common formula using both of the first photoacoustic signal and the second photoacoustic signal, and wherein as a result of the common calculation processing, the single spectral image signal has (a) a first numerical value range corresponding to the contrast agent, (b) a second numerical value range corresponding to oxyhemoglobin, and (c) a third numerical value range corresponding to deoxyhemoglobin;
• determining a region of the single spectral image signal having the first numerical value range in the single spectral image signal as a lymphatic vessel region;
• determining a region of the single spectral image signal having the second numerical value range in the single spectral image signal as an artery region;
• determining a region of the single spectral image signal having the third numerical value range in the single spectral image signal as a vein region;
• allocating different colors to image values of the single spectral image signal included in the first numerical value range, the second numerical value range, and the third numerical value range;
• and
• displaying the single spectral image signal in which the lymphatic vessel region, the artery region, and the vein region are displayed in the different colors to be distinguishable from each other,
• wherein the acquiring comprises setting the first wavelength and the second wavelength such that the first numerical value range, the second numerical value range, and the third numerical value range are different from one another.