Image processing method, image processing device, program

An image processing method performed by a processor, the image processing method comprising:

• acquiring a first fundus image in which choroid blood vessels are visualized;
• extracting choroid arteries in the first fundus image by performing image processing on the first fundus image;
• and
• generating a second fundus image in which the choroid arteries are highlighted,
• wherein:
• extracting the choroid arteries includes
• setting a plurality of regions in the first fundus image for each specific center angle centered on a specific position, and
• performing highlight processing in a predetermined plurality of directions to highlight images where brightness is continuous in a direction from the specific position toward a periphery in images contained in the set plurality of regions;
• and
• generating the second fundus image step includes
• combining, at a specific combination ratio, a plurality of highlight images in each of the regions obtained in the highlight processing to generate the second fundus image in which choroid arteries are highlighted.

An image processing device, comprising:

• an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first fundus image in which choroid blood vessels are visualized;
• an extraction unit configured to extract choroid arteries in the first fundus image acquired by the acquisition unit by performing image processing on the first fundus image;
• and
• a generation unit configured to generate a second fundus image in which the choroid arteries extracted by the extraction unit are highlighted,
• wherein,
• the extraction unit is configured to
• convert the first fundus image to a polar coordinate display image by polar coordinate conversion, and
• process to highlight an image, contained in the polar coordinate display image, in which brightness is continuous in a predetermined direction from a specific position toward a periphery;
• and
• the generation unit is configured to
• convert the polar coordinate display image subjected to highlight processing into a Cartesian coordinate display image by Cartesian image conversion.

An image processing device, comprising:

• an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first fundus image in which choroid blood vessels are visualized;
• an extraction unit configured to extract choroid arteries in the first fundus image acquired by the acquisition unit by performing image processing on the first fundus image;
• and
• a generation unit configured to generate a second fundus image in which the choroid arteries extracted by the extraction unit are highlighted,
• wherein,
• the extraction unit is configured to
• set a plurality of regions in the first fundus image for each specific center angle centered on a specific position, and
• perform highlight processing in a predetermined plurality of directions to highlight images where brightness is continuous in a direction from the specific position toward a periphery in images contained in the set plurality of regions;
• and
• the generation unit is configured to
• combine, at a specific combination ratio, a plurality of highlight images in each of the regions obtained in the highlight processing to generate the second image in which choroid arteries are highlighted.

A non-transitory storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute processing comprising:

• acquiring a first fundus image in which choroid blood vessels are visualized;
• extracting choroid arteries in the first fundus image by performing image processing on the first fundus image;
• and
• generating a second fundus image in which the choroid arteries are highlighted,
• wherein,
• extracting the choroid arteries includes
• converting the first fundus image to a polar coordinate display image by polar coordinate conversion, and
• processing to highlight an image, contained in the polar coordinate display image, in which brightness is continuous in a predetermined direction from a specific position toward a periphery;
• and
• generating the second fundus image includes
• converting the polar coordinate display image into a Cartesian coordinate display image by Cartesian image conversion.

A non-transitory storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute processing comprising:

• acquiring a first fundus image in which choroid blood vessels are visualized;
• extracting choroid arteries in the first fundus image by performing image processing on the first fundus image;
• and
• generating a second fundus image in which the choroid arteries are highlighted, wherein,
• extracting the choroid arteries includes
• setting a plurality of regions in the first fundus image for each specific center angle centered on a specific position, and
• performing highlight processing in a predetermined plurality of directions to highlight images where brightness is continuous in a direction from the specific position toward a periphery in images contained in the set plurality of regions;
• and
• generating the second fundus image includes
• combining, at a specific combination ratio, a plurality of highlight images in each of the regions obtained in the highlight processing to generate the second image in which choroid arteries are highlighted.