IP Library Granted Patent US 12,475,533
Granted Patent B2
US 12,475,533 · App. 18/182,398 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program

Inventor: Jo Fujita (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
G06T5/50A61B6/542G06T7/11G06T2207/10081G06T2207/20221
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,475,533
App. No.
18/182,398
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image processing apparatus that acquires a plurality of radiographic images captured by irradiating a photographic subject with radiations at different tube voltages. From the plurality of radiographic images, the image processing apparatus generates, for a region of interest selected in the radiographic image, a first region image equivalent to an image to be obtained when a radiation at a first virtual tube voltage is radiated. From the plurality of radiographic images, the image processing apparatus generates, for an unselected region other than the region of interest in the radiographic image, a second region image equivalent to an image to be obtained when a radiation at a second virtual tube voltage according to a distance from the region of interest is radiated. The image processing apparatus generates a combined image obtained by combining the first region image and the second region image together.

Claims (35)

1 . An image processing apparatus comprising:

at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured to:

acquire a plurality of radiographic images captured by irradiating a photographic subject with radiations at different tube voltages;

acquire information representing at least one region of interest selected in at least one radiographic image among the plurality of radiographic images and a first virtual tube voltage for the region of interest;

derive, for an unselected region other than the region of interest in the at least one radiographic image, a second virtual tube voltage according to a distance from the region of interest;

generate, for the region of interest, a first region image from the plurality of radiographic images, the first region image being equivalent to an image to be obtained when a radiation at the first virtual tube voltage is radiated;

generate, for the unselected region, a second region image from the plurality of radiographic images, the second region image being equivalent to an image to be obtained when a radiation at the second virtual tube voltage is radiated; and

generate a combined image obtained by combining the first region image and the second region image together.

2 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to

derive the second virtual tube voltage according to the distance from the region of interest, using a function that outputs a tube voltage value that increases as the distance from the region of interest increases.

3 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to

in a case of acquiring information representing a plurality of the regions of interest, derive, for the unselected region, the second virtual tube voltage according to a distance from a closest region of interest among the plurality of regions of interest.

4 . An image processing method comprising:

by a processor of an image processing apparatus,

acquiring a plurality of radiographic images captured by irradiating a photographic subject with radiations at different tube voltages;

acquiring information representing at least one region of interest selected in at least one radiographic image among the plurality of radiographic images and a first virtual tube voltage for the region of interest;

deriving, for an unselected region other than the region of interest in the at least one radiographic image, a second virtual tube voltage according to a distance from the region of interest;

generating, for the region of interest, a first region image from the plurality of radiographic images, the first region image being equivalent to an image to be obtained when a radiation at the first virtual tube voltage is radiated;

generating, for the unselected region, a second region image from the plurality of radiographic images, the second region image being equivalent to an image to be obtained when a radiation at the second virtual tube voltage is radiated; and

generating a combined image obtained by combining the first region image and the second region image together.

5 . The image processing method of claim 4 , wherein

the second virtual tube voltage is derived according to the distance from the region of interest, using a function that outputs a tube voltage value that increases as the distance from the region of interest increases.

6 . The image processing method of claim 4 , wherein

in a case of acquiring information representing a plurality of regions of interest, for the unselected region, the second virtual tube voltage is derived according to a distance from a closest region of interest among the plurality of regions of interest.

7 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing an image processing program executable by a processor to perform an image processing, the image processing comprising:

acquiring a plurality of radiographic images captured by irradiating a photographic subject with radiations at different tube voltages;

acquiring information representing at least one region of interest selected in at least one radiographic image among the plurality of radiographic images and a first virtual tube voltage for the region of interest;

deriving, for an unselected region other than the region of interest in the at least one radiographic image, a second virtual tube voltage according to a distance from the region of interest;

generating, for the region of interest, a first region image from the plurality of radiographic images, the first region image being equivalent to an image to be obtained when a radiation at the first virtual tube voltage is radiated;

generating, for the unselected region, a second region image from the plurality of radiographic images, the second region image being equivalent to an image to be obtained when a radiation at the second virtual tube voltage is radiated; and

generating a combined image obtained by combining the first region image and the second region image together.

8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein

the second virtual tube voltage is derived according to the distance from the region of interest, using a function that outputs a tube voltage value that increases as the distance from the region of interest increases.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein

in a case of acquiring information representing a plurality of regions of interest, for the unselected region, the second virtual tube voltage is derived according to a distance from a closest region of interest among the plurality of regions of interest.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2023
From: FUJITA, JO
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062969/0101 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-156693 · Sep 17, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2021030472 · Aug 19, 2021
Related Publication 20230222638A1 · Jul 13, 2023
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