Blood flow image processing apparatus and blood flow image processing method
According to one embodiment, a depth map used for a reflection model is generated based on a power image as a blood flow image. A reflection image is generated from the depth map according to the reflection model. By synthesizing the reflection image 70 with the power image, a weighted power image is generated. Using the same method as described above, a weighted velocity image may be generated.
1. A blood flow image processing apparatus comprising:
a depth map processor that generates a pseudo depth map based on a two-dimensional blood flow image representing a blood flow in a two-dimensional region of a living organism, the pseudo depth map being formed from multiple pseudo depths that are created from multiple brightness values that form the two-dimensional blood flow image;
a weighted image processor that generates a weighted image for weighting a spatial change of the blood flow based on the depth map; and
an image processor that processes the blood flow image using the weighted image; wherein
the blood flow image is a power image representing a power distribution of Doppler information;
the depth map processor determines each of depths forming the depth map based on each of powers forming the power image; and
the depth map processor has a function that determines a smaller depth as the power increases.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the depth map is generated to apply a reflection model to the blood flow image in a virtual three-dimensional space defined based on the blood flow image, and
a reflection image processor is configured as the weighted image processor, and wherein said reflection image processor generates a reflection image as the weighted image from the depth map based on the reflection model.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the image processor synthesizes the reflection image with the blood flow image to generate a weighted blood flow image.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising
a color conversion processor that converts the blood flow image into a color blood flow image, wherein
the reflection image is a color image, and
the image processor synthesizes the reflection image as the color image with the color blood flow image.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the reflection image is a white image for displaying gloss.
6. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the reflection image processor includes:
a gradient map processor that generates a gradient map based on the depth map; and
a reflection generation processor that generates the reflection image based on the gradient map.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the weighted image processor generates the weighted image based on the depth map and a dispersion map.
8. A blood flow image processing method that is executed by a blood flow image processing apparatus, the method comprising steps of:
generating a pseudo depth map based on a two-dimensional blood flow image representing a blood flow in a two-dimensional region of a living organism, the pseudo depth map being formed from multiple pseudo depths that are created from multiple brightness values that form the two-dimensional blood flow image;
generating a weighted image for weighting a spatial change of the blood flow from the depth map based on a reflection model; and
synthesizing the weighted image with the blood flow image to generate a weighted blood flow image; wherein
the blood flow image is a power image representing a power distribution of Doppler information;
the depth map processor determines each of depths forming the depth map based on each of powers forming the power image; and
the depth map processor has a function that determines a smaller depth as the power increases.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a blood-flow imaging program that, when executed, causes a processor to:
generate a pseudo depth map based on a two-dimensional blood flow image representing a blood flow in a two-dimensional region of a living organism, the pseudo depth map being formed from multiple pseudo depths that are created from multiple brightness values that form the two-dimensional blood flow image;
generate a weighted image for weighting a spatial change of the blood flow from the depth map based on a reflection model; and
synthesize the weighted image with the blood flow image to generate a weighted blood flow image; wherein
the blood flow image is a power image representing a power distribution of Doppler information;
the depth map processor determines each of depths forming the depth map based on each of powers forming the power image; and
the depth map processor has a function that determines a smaller depth as the power increases.