Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium

An image processing method for detecting an abnormal part from an intraluminal image, the method comprising:

• calculating gradient information of each of pixels, based on pixel values of the intraluminal image;
• creating, based on the gradient information, a closed region so that the closed region has a boundary with pixels with positions satisfying a condition where the closed region does not include, on an inside thereof, any pixel of which a gradient strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and also, a boundary of the closed region does not curve toward an interior of the closed region with a curvature equal to or larger than a predetermined value;
• and
• detecting the abnormal part from the inside of the closed region.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a processor to perform:

• calculating gradient information of each of pixels, based on pixel values of the intraluminal image;
• creating, based on the gradient information, a closed region so that the closed region has a boundary with pixels with positions satisfying a condition where the closed region does not include, on an inside thereof, any pixel of which a gradient strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and also, a boundary of the closed region does not curve toward an interior of the closed region with a curvature equal to or larger than a predetermined value;
• and
• detecting the abnormal part from the inside of the closed region.

An image processing apparatus that detects an abnormal part from an intraluminal image, the apparatus comprising:

• a gradient information calculating unit that calculates gradient information of each of pixels, based on pixel values of the intraluminal image;
• a closed region creating unit that, based on the gradient information, creates a closed region so that the closed region has a boundary with pixels with positions satisfying a condition where the closed region does not include, on an inside thereof, any pixel of which a gradient strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and also, a boundary of the closed region does not curve toward an interior of the closed region, with a curvature equal to or larger than a predetermined value;
• and
• an abnormal part detecting unit that detects the abnormal part from the inside of the closed region.