Image processing apparatus, radiation imaging system, image processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

#The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a radiation imaging system, an image processing method, and a program and, more particularly, to an image processing technique for performing region extraction processing of extracting a desired region in a radiographed image at a high speed and high accuracy.

#In recent years, radiation imaging apparatuses have widely proliferated in medical sites. A radiographic image is acquired as a digital signal, diagnostic image processing for converting it into an image suitable for a diagnosis is performed, and the image is displayed on a display device and used for a diagnosis.

#In the diagnostic image processing of the radiation imaging apparatus, a desired region in the radiographic image is extracted, and the result of region extraction is used for processing. An example is extraction of a region (to be referred to as an “irradiation field” hereinafter) irradiated with radiation in the radiographic image. In the radiation imaging apparatus, generally, the irradiation field is limited using a diaphragm to reduce radiation exposure to parts other than a region of interest and prevent contrast from being lowered by scattered rays. To execute suitable diagnostic image processing for a diagnostic region of interest without any influence of the region where the radiation is shielded, it is necessary to use the result of correctly extracting the irradiation field in the image.

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain principles of the invention.

#FIG. 1 shows a block diagram 1a showing an example of the basic configuration of a radiation imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment, a block diagram 1b showing an example of the basic configuration of an image processing apparatus, and a block diagram 1c showing an example of the basic configuration of a region extraction unit;

#FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing of the radiation imaging apparatus;

#Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. Multiple features are described in the embodiments, but limitation is not made to an invention that requires all such features, and multiple such features may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

#An example of the configuration of a radiation imaging system according to the present invention will be described first with reference to FIG. 1. The radiation imaging system includes a radiation imaging apparatus and an image processing apparatus. In FIG. 1, 1a is a block diagram showing an example of the basic configuration of the radiation imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1b is a block diagram showing an example of the basic configuration of the image processing apparatus. Also, 1c in FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the basic configuration of a region extraction unit.

#A radiation imaging apparatus 100 includes a radiation generating apparatus 101 that generates radiation, a bed 103 on which an object 102 is arranged, a radiation detection apparatus 104 that detects the radiation and outputs image data according to the radiation that has passed through the object 102, a control apparatus 105 that controls the radiation generating timing and the radiation generating conditions of the radiation generating apparatus 101, a data collection apparatus 106 that collects various kinds of digital data, and an information processing apparatus 107 that controls image processing or the entire apparatus in accordance with a user instruction.