Image processing apparatus and image processing method for removing residual image

An image processing apparatus for processing an image of a subject taken with an imaging device, said image processing apparatus comprising:

• an image acquiring section configured to acquire a first image and a second image from said imaging device, said second image being taken subsequent to said first image;
• a correction coefficient table containing a plurality of first correction coefficients, each of said plurality of first correction coefficients being used for determining an attenuation factor of a residual image of said first image superimposed on said second image, each of said plurality of first correction coefficients corresponding to a value of a predetermined parameter;
• a parameter obtaining section configured to obtain a value of said parameter at an exposure of said second image;
• an interpolator configured to calculate a second correction coefficient corresponding to said obtained parameter value by interpolating said plurality of first correction coefficients in a case where said correction coefficient table does not contain a correction coefficient corresponding to said obtained parameter value;
• and
• a residual image remover configured to calculate a residual image based on a time lapse between an exposure of said first image and an exposure of said second image and one of said plurality of first correction coefficients or said second correction coefficient corresponding to said obtained parameter value, to remove said residual image from said second image.