Image processing apparatus and image processing method

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

processing circuitry configured to:

select a specified cross section from three dimensional (3D) image data including a whole or part of a lung; and

perform control so as to form in a curve corresponding to a curve delineated on the specified cross section by a user, from the specified cross section to a cross section within a specified range, wherein the cross section within the specified range is different from the specified cross section, so as to form curved surface on the 3D image data, wherein

the processing circuitry is configured to select, from the 3D image data, a plurality of cross sections including a cross section that does not include an aortic arch and includes a heart of cross sections adjacent to a cross section that includes the aortic arch, a cross section in which an area of a lung region is maximized, and a cross section that does not include the heart of cross sections adjacent to a cross section that includes the heart, as specified cross sections.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select a specified number of points from the curve delineated on the specified cross section, calculate points corresponding to the selected points from the cross section within the specified range, and connect the calculated points, so as to form a curve on the cross section within the specified range.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to connect two adjacent points of the calculated points using a straight line so as to form a curve on the cross section within the specified range.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to connect two adjacent points of the calculated points using a least cost path for pixel values so as to form a curve on the cross section within the specified range.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive a correction to the curved surface.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to identify a type of the curve delineated on the specified cross section.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

display a 3D image based on the 3D image data on which the curved surface is formed;

select a plurality of specified cross sections; and

display the 3D image in a range in which the curved surface is formed whenever the curve is delineated on one of the specified cross sections.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select a plurality of specified cross sections that are parallel to each other.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select a plurality of specified cross sections that are parallel to a sagittal plane and have certain intervals between each other.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to select a cross section that is located at a middle position of cross sections that do not include the heart and include the lung, as the specified cross section.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the 3D image data includes a whole or part of a liver.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select a plurality of specified cross sections based on a specified selection mode, and, when the curve is formed again, select a plurality of the specified cross sections based on a selection mode different from the specified selection mode.

13. An image processing apparatus comprising:

processing circuitry configured to:

select a plurality of specified cross sections from three dimensional (3D) image data;

perform control so as to form a curve corresponding to a curve delineated on the specified cross section by a user, from the specified cross section to a cross section within a specified range, wherein the cross section within the specified range is different from the specified cross section, so as to form curved surface on the 3D image data, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to form the curved surface for each specified cross section, generate partial 3D image data that corresponds to the specified cross section and the cross section within the specified range in an entirety of the 3D image data and in which the curved surface is formed for each specified cross section; and

combine a plurality of pieces of the partial 3D image data while interpolating a gap between the pieces of the partial 3D image data.

14. An image processing method comprising:

selecting a specified cross section from three dimensional (3D) image data including a whole or part of a lung; and

forming a curve corresponding to a curve delineated on the specified cross section by a user, from the specified cross section to a cross section within a specified range, wherein the cross section within the specified range is different from the specified cross section, so as to form curved surface on the 3D image data, wherein the image processing method further comprises:

selecting, from the 3D image data, a plurality of cross sections including a cross section that does not include an aortic arch and includes a heart of cross sections adjacent to a cross section that includes the aortic arch, a cross section in which an area of a lung region is maximized, and a cross section that does not include the heart of cross sections adjacent to a cross section that includes the heart, as specified cross sections.

15. An image processing method comprising:

selecting a plurality of specified cross section from three dimensional (3D) image data; and

forming a curve corresponding to a curve delineated on the specified cross section by a user, from the specified cross section to a cross section within a specified range, wherein the cross section within the specified range is different from the specified cross section, so as to form curved surface on the 3D image data, wherein the image processing method further comprises:

forming the curved surface for each specified cross section, generate partial 3D image data that corresponds to the specified cross section and the cross section within the specified range in an entirety of the 3D image data and in which the curved surface is formed for each specified cross section; and

combining a plurality of pieces of the partial 3D image data while interpolating a gap between the pieces of the partial 3D image data.