# US 2021/0241886 A1 · Medical image processing apparatus and medical image processing method

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- Number: US 2021/0241886 A1
- Document ID: US20210241886A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/090,975
- Filed: 2020-11-06
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-30
- Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd.
- Applicants: Hitachi, Ltd.
- Inventors: Yoshimi NOGUCHI; Tomofumi NISHIURA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241886A1

## CPC

- G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing
- A61B 8/5223: {for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data (for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012)}
- G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection}
- G06T 7/62: of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
- G06V 20/698: {Matching; Classification}
- G06T 2207/10081: Computed x-ray tomography [CT]
- G06T 2207/10088: Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]
- G06T 2207/10104: Positron emission tomography [PET]
- G06T 2207/10132: Ultrasound image
- G06T 2207/30096: Tumor; Lesion
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING

## Abstract

To provide a medical image processing apparatus and a medical image processing method enabling a reduction in burden of re-imaging and re-interpretation of a medical image. The medical image processing apparatus for processing a medical image includes: a detection section that detects, from the medical image, a candidate region which is a region including a lesion candidate or target tissue, and that calculates an identification score for the candidate region; a designated region acquisition section that acquires a designated region which is a region designated by an operator; and a redetection section that calculates an identification score for the designated region based on the designated region and multiple predefined regions which are regions used in a process of detecting the candidate region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medical image processing apparatus for processing a medical image, comprising:
a detection section that detects, from the medical image, a candidate region which is a region including a lesion candidate or target tissue, and that calculates an identification score for the candidate region;
a designated region acquisition section that acquires a designated region which is a region designated by an operator; and
a redetection section that calculates an identification score for the designated region based on the designated region and multiple predefined regions which are regions used in a process of detecting the candidate region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the redetection section has a similarity degree calculation section that calculates a degree of similarity between the designated region and each of the multiple predefined regions, and an identification score calculation section that calculates an identification score for the designated region based on the degree of similarity and an identification score for each of the multiple predefined regions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification score calculation section calculates the identification score for the designated region as Σ(wi·si)/Σ(Wi) where si is an identification score for each of the multiple predefined regions, and Wi is the degree of similarity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the identification score calculation section uses only the identification score si for a predefined region with the degree of similarity Wi at or above a predetermined threshold value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designated region is generated by deforming the candidate region.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designated region has any one of shapes including a rectangular shape, an elliptic shape, a circular shape, a polygonal shape, and a closed region by a free form curve.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification score is an index including at least one of a degree of abnormality, a degree of malignancy, likelihood of tissue classification, and likelihood of lesion category.

### Claim 8

A medical image processing method that is performed by a medical image processing apparatus for processing a medical image, comprising:
a detection step of detecting, from the medical image, a candidate region which is a region including a lesion candidate or target tissue, and calculating an identification score for the candidate region;
a designated region acquisition step of acquiring a designated region which is a region designated by an operator; and
a redetection step of calculating an identification score for the designated region based on the designated region and multiple predefined regions which are regions used in a process of detecting the candidate region.