# US 2022/0044408 A1 · Medical image processing apparatus, system, and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0044408 A1 - Document ID: US20220044408A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/392,657 - Filed: 2021-08-03 - Published: 2022-02-10 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-07 - Assignees: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Inventors: Gakuto AOYAMA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220044408A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/02007: {Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance} - G06T 7/11: Region-based segmentation - A61B 5/0035: {adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography} - A61B 5/0263: {using NMR} - A61B 5/1075: {for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer (A61B8/0858 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/7264: {Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems} - A61B 5/743: {Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots} - A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]} - A61B 6/503: {for diagnosis of the heart} - A61B 6/5217: {extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data} - G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection} - G06T 7/136: involving thresholding - G06T 7/64: of convexity or concavity - A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging - A61B 5/1076: {for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters (A61B3/1005 takes precedence)} - A61B 8/06: Measuring blood flow - A61B 8/0891: {for diagnosis of blood vessels} - A61B 8/5223: {for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data (for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012)} - A61B 2576/023: for the heart - G06T 2207/10081: Computed x-ray tomography [CT] - G06T 2207/30101: Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular - G06T 2207/30172: Centreline of tubular or elongated structure - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires the distribution of the wall shear stress of a blood vessel. The processing circuitry extracts a representative value or a blood vessel region from the distribution of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel on the basis of an extraction criterion determined for each region in accordance with the shape or the property of the blood vessel. The processing circuitry changes the display mode of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel on the basis of a result of extracting the representative value of the wall shear stress or a characteristic blood vessel region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical image processing apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured to acquire a distribution of wall shear stress of a blood vessel, extract a representative value or a blood vessel region from the distribution of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel, based on an extraction criterion determined for each region in accordance with a shape or a property of the blood vessel, and change a display mode of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel, based on a result of extracting the representative value of the wall shear stress or a characteristic blood vessel region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to calculate a value of relatively high wall shear stress as the representative value about a region including plaque in the blood vessel, and calculate a value of relatively low wall shear stress as the representative value about a region not including the plaque in the blood vessel, and change the display mode of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel so as to express the calculated representative value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the plaque exists for each blood vessel branch of the blood vessel, and calculate the representative value for each blood vessel branch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the plaque exists for each region along an extending direction of a blood vessel branch of the blood vessel, and calculate the representative value for each region along the extending direction of the blood vessel branch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to further determine hardness of the plaque in the blood vessel, and change the extraction criterion in accordance with the hardness of the plaque. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to segment a blood vessel region in which a curvature of the blood vessel is higher than a threshold, and change the display mode of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel so as to express the wall shear stress in a region inside a curve about the blood vessel region in which the curvature is higher than the threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to calculate a difference between the wall shear stresses at the same position calculated at a plurality of time points for the same blood vessel, and segment a blood vessel region in which the calculated difference is higher than a threshold or a blood vessel region in which the calculated difference is lower than the threshold, and change the display mode of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel so as to express the wall shear stress in the segmented blood vessel region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to further determine whether a myocardium to which blood is supplied by the blood vessel is inflamed, and when the myocardium is inflamed, the processing circuitry is configured to change the extraction criterion in the region not including the plaque in the blood vessel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to calculate, for each position of a center line of the blood vessel, a maximum value, a minimum value, an average value, or a value with a largest difference from an adjacent value from among values of the wall shear stresses at a blood vessel wall intersecting with a cross section that is orthogonal to the center line, and additionally change the display mode of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel so as to express the maximum value, the minimum value, the average value, or the value with the largest difference from the adjacent value that is calculated for each position of the center line of the blood vessel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform additional display of the extraction criterion used to extract the representative value or the blood vessel region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to display the extracted representative value or blood vessel region with emphasis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to emphasize the extracted representative value or blood vessel region by magnification. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when a distance between a plurality of the blood vessel regions to be magnified is less than a threshold, the processing circuitry is configured to magnify the blood vessel regions in one magnifying region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to emphasize the extracted representative value or blood vessel region using color, texture, a pattern, or additional information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when displaying the wall shear stress in a plurality of the blood vessels overlapping in a sight direction, the processing circuitry is configured to change a shape of the blood vessels so that the blood vessels do not overlap in the sight direction and to perform the display of the wall shear stress in each blood vessel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to distinguish the magnified representative value or blood vessel region from the blood vessel in the display. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform additional display of discrimination information for discriminating the blood vessel region that is displayed distinguishably. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform display of the wall shear stress and a medical image expressing a cross section of the corresponding blood vessel in parallel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform display of the medical image in which the cross section is changed in accordance with the shape or the property of the blood vessel region to be displayed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform display of a curved planar reconstruction image where the blood vessel region including the plaque is cut along a cross section where a blood vessel diameter is shortest. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform display of a multi planar reconstruction image where the blood vessel region with a curvature higher than a threshold is cut along a cross section horizontal to a curve of the blood vessel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform additional display of a graph expressing a maximum value and a minimum value of the wall shear stress at a blood vessel wall intersecting with a cross section that is orthogonal to a center line of the blood vessel for each position of the center line. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform additional display of the distribution of the values of the wall shear stress at the blood vessel wall intersecting with the cross section orthogonal to the center line on the graph. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform display of a characteristic position of the wall shear stress in a predetermined direction in a medical image expressing a cross section of the blood vessel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform additional display of information about a moving quantity of the medical image for expressing the characteristic position of the wall shear stress in a predetermined direction in the medical image expressing the cross section of the blood vessel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform display of the medical image expressing the cross section of the blood vessel and a three-dimensional image of the blood vessel, and also display of a position on the three-dimensional image corresponding to the characteristic position of the wall shear stress so that discrimination is possible. ### Claim 27 A medical image processing apparatus comprising a processing circuitry configured to extract a representative value or a blood vessel region, based on a spatial distribution of wall shear stress in a blood vessel, and change a display mode of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel, based on a result of extracting the representative value of the wall shear stress or a characteristic blood vessel region. ### Claim 28 A medical image processing system comprising: a medical image processing apparatus; and a medical information display apparatus, wherein the medical image processing apparatus is configured to acquire a distribution of wall shear stress of a blood vessel, and extract a representative value or a blood vessel region from the distribution of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel, based on an extraction criterion determined for each region in accordance with a shape or a property of the blood vessel, and the medical information display apparatus is configured to change a display mode of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel, based on a result of extracting the representative value of the wall shear stress or a characteristic blood vessel region. ### Claim 29 A medical image processing method comprising: acquiring a distribution of wall shear stress of a blood vessel; extracting a representative value or a blood vessel region from the distribution of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel, based on an extraction criterion determined for each region in accordance with a shape or a property of the blood vessel; and changing a display mode of the wall shear stress in the blood vessel, based on a result of extracting the representative value of the wall shear stress or a characteristic blood vessel region.