# US 2018/0025481 A1 · Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0025481 A1 - Document ID: US20180025481A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/719,837 - Filed: 2017-09-29 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-30 - Assignees: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yuuji Onimura; Akiyuki Takami; Atsushi Sakaoka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025481A1 ## CPC - A61B 1/044: {for absorption imaging} - A61B 1/00: Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes (examination of body cavities or body tracts using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/12; endoscopic instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/04); Illuminating arrangements therefor (for the eyes A61B3/00) - A61B 5/004: {adapted for image acquisition of a particular organ or body part (A61B5/0082 takes precedence; arrangements for optical scanning A61B5/0062)} - A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging} - A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/4848: {Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication} - A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)} - A61B 5/743: {Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots} - G06T 7/001: {using an image reference approach} - G06T 7/74: {involving reference images or patches} - A61B 5/02007: {Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance} - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 2018/00404: {Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart} - A61B 2018/00434: {Neural system} - A61B 2018/00511: {Kidney} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00982: {combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes} - A61B 2090/3735: {Optical coherence tomography [OCT]} - G06T 2200/24: involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs] - G06T 2207/10101: Optical tomography; Optical coherence tomography [OCT] - G06T 2207/30101: Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract An image processing apparatus is disclosed, which uses OCT to process a plurality of cross-sectional images obtained by moving an imaging core inside a catheter in an axial direction while rotating the imaging core. Cross-sectional image data is acquired in association with position information in the axial direction when each of the cross-sectional images. A first cross-sectional image in which a disappearance section enabling determination having a disappeared portion of an external elastic membrane included in a vascular tomographic image starts, and a second cross-sectional image in which the disappearance section ends are extracted from the plurality of cross-sectional images. The position information in the axial direction is acquired for the first cross-sectional image and the second cross-sectional image, and an ablation range influenced by ablation at a position associated with the disappearance section is calculated based on a difference in the acquired position information in the axial direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image processing apparatus for using OCT to process a plurality of cross-sectional images obtained by moving an imaging core inside a catheter in an axial direction while rotating the imaging core, the apparatus comprising: a processor configured to: store data relating to the cross-sectional images in association with position information in the axial direction when each of the cross-sectional images is acquired; extract a first cross-sectional image in which a disappearance section enabling determination that there is a disappeared portion of an external elastic membrane included in a vascular tomographic image starts, and a second cross-sectional image in which the disappearance section ends, in the plurality of cross-sectional images; and acquire the position information in the axial direction of the first cross-sectional image and the second cross-sectional image, and for calculating an ablation range influenced by ablation at a position associated with the disappearance section, based on a difference in the acquired position information in the axial direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where a distance from an intravascular wall to the external elastic membrane is set to t and a difference in the position information in the axial direction is set to m, the processor is configured to: set a semicircle having a string having a length m at a position away from the center as far as the distance t, as the ablation range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to: calculate an ablation depth in each of the cross-sectional images, in the disappearance section, based on the semicircle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: receive a user's designation of the cross-sectional image in which the disappearance section starts and the cross-sectional image in which the disappearance section ends. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: detect an image of the external elastic membrane in the vascular tomographic image from each of the plurality of cross-sectional images, and determine whether or not the external elastic membrane partially disappears in each of the cross-sectional images. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display configured to display the cross-sectional image selected in a case where the cross-sectional image belonging to the disappearance section is selected as a display target, and wherein the ablation depth is obtained from the calculated ablation range. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to: detect the ablation range in a circumferential direction, based on a change in a luminance value of the selected cross-sectional image, and the display specifies the ablation range in the circumferential direction which is detected, in displaying the selected cross-sectional image. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: notifying a user that ablation is completed, in a case where the ablation depth extracted by the extraction means exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 9 An image processing method for using OCT to process a plurality of cross-sectional images obtained by moving an imaging core inside a catheter in an axial direction while rotating the imaging core, the method comprising: causing a memory to store data relating to the cross-sectional images in association with position information in the axial direction when each of the cross-sectional images is acquired; extracting a first cross-sectional image in which a disappearance section enabling determination that there is a disappeared portion of an external elastic membrane included in a vascular tomographic image starts, and a second cross-sectional image in which the disappearance section ends, in the plurality of cross-sectional images; and acquiring the position information in the axial direction of the first cross-sectional image and the second cross-sectional image from the memory, and of calculating an ablation range influenced by ablation at a position associated with the disappearance section, based on a difference in the acquired position information in the axial direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A program which causes a computer to execute each step of the image processing method according to claim 9. ### Claim 11 An image processing method for using OCT to process a plurality of cross-sectional images obtained by moving an imaging core inside a catheter in an axial direction while rotating the imaging core, the method comprising: storing data relating to the cross-sectional images in association with position information in the axial direction when each of the cross-sectional images is acquired; extracting a first cross-sectional image in which a disappearance section enabling determination that there is a disappeared portion of an external elastic membrane included in a vascular tomographic image starts, and a second cross-sectional image in which the disappearance section ends, in the plurality of cross-sectional images; and acquiring the position information in the axial direction of the first cross-sectional image and the second cross-sectional image, and for calculating an ablation range influenced by ablation at a position associated with the disappearance section, based on a difference in the acquired position information in the axial direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein in a case where a distance from an intravascular wall to the external elastic membrane is set to t and a difference in the position information in the axial direction is set to m, further comprising: setting a semicircle having a string having a length m at a position away from the center as far as the distance t, as the ablation range. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image processing method according to claim 12, comprising: calculating an ablation depth in each of the cross-sectional images, in the disappearance section, based on the semicircle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The image processing method according to claim 11, comprising: receiving a user's designation of the cross-sectional image in which the disappearance section starts and the cross-sectional image in which the disappearance section ends. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The image processing method according to claim 11, comprising: detecting an image of the external elastic membrane in the vascular tomographic image from each of the plurality of cross-sectional images, and determine whether or not the external elastic membrane partially disappears in each of the cross-sectional images. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The image processing method according to claim 11, further comprising: displaying the cross-sectional image selected in a case where the cross-sectional image belonging to the disappearance section is selected as a display target on a display. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image processing method according to claim 16, further comprising: obtaining the ablation depth from the calculated ablation range. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The image processing method according to claim 17, further comprising: detecting the ablation range in a circumferential direction, based on a change in a luminance value of the selected cross-sectional image, and the display specifies the ablation range in the circumferential direction which is detected, in displaying the selected cross-sectional image. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: notifying a user that ablation is completed, in a case where the ablation depth extracted by the extraction means exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) A program which causes a computer to execute each step of the image processing method according to claim 11.