Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, image processing apparatus, and image processing method

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an input unit configured to receive a group of medical images corresponding to at least one heart beat from among a group of medical images corresponding to a plurality of heart beats of a subject, as first partial data;
• and
• a selecting unit configured to, while using a heart rate of the subject during an acquisition period of the first partial data as a reference heart rate, select a group of medical images having a heart rate within a predetermined range from the reference heart rate as second partial data, out of a group of medical images of the subject acquired in a time frame different from that of the first partial data.

An image processing method comprising:

• a process performed by an input unit to receive a group of medical images corresponding to at least one heart beat from among a group of medical images corresponding to a plurality of heart beats of a subject, as first partial data;
• and
• a process performed by a selecting unit to, while using a heart rate of the subject during an acquisition period of the first partial data as a reference heart rate, select a group of medical images having a heart rate within a predetermined range from the reference heart rate as second partial data, out of a group of medical images of the subject acquired in a time frame different from that of the first partial data.