Processing method, image processing system and computer program

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to a method of and a system for image processing and a computer program for image processing, and more particularly to a method of and a system for image processing in which an image analysis processing is carried out by the use of the image of an object, and a computer program for causing a computer to execute the image analysis.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,

#FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of the gradation curve employed in the gradation processing,

#FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing operation of the image processing system 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention,

#In FIG. 1, an image processing system 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises an image processing information obtaining means 10 which obtains from an input image P the image processing information T attached thereto, a correction means 20 which corrects the image P on the basis of the image processing information T so that the image P approaches to an image optimal to the image analysis and an image analysis means 30 which executes the image analysis by the use of the corrected image.

#The case where CAD processing (abnormal shadow detection) is executed by the use of a medical image will be described, here.

#As a first embodiment of the present invention, the following conditions are first set. It is assumed that the image P is a medical image and the image processing information T is attached to the image P as header information of the image P. The image processing information T includes processing check information which represents whether or not the image is a processed image which has undergone image processing, and includes, when the processing check information represents that the image is a processed image, processing condition information which represents the conditions under which the image processing has been carried out on the image. For example, the processing check information is a parameter Z which represents whether or not the image is a processed image by a value 0 or 1, and the processing condition information is a parameter G which represents the number of type of the gradation curve employed in the gradation processing. It is assumed that the image optimal to the CAD is an image Po before the image processing (corresponding to the original image), and the image processing is gradation processing. In the gradation processing, a gradation curve representing the correspondence of the pixel values of the image before processing to the pixel values of the image after processing as shown in FIG. 2 is set and the pixel values are transformed according to the set gradation curve. A plurality of gradation curves are prepared in advance in a plurality of types.