Image processing apparatus

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to store a three-dimensional image associated with a cardiac region of a subject;

a specifying unit configured to specify a plurality of cardiac valves from a vascular region included in the three-dimensional image by image processing;

a calculation unit configured to calculate index values indicating open/close degrees of the cardiac valves; and

a display unit configured to display the index values;

wherein the display unit displays a schematic valve image which schematically expresses shapes of the cardiac valves and also expresses the index values in different brightness or colors.

2. The image processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calculation unit calculates the index value for each of different portions of the heart for each of the cardiac valves.

3. The image processing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a setting unit, an extraction unit, a first generation unit, a specifying unit, and a second generation unit,

the setting unit setting a section in a vascular region included in the cardiac region,

the extraction unit extracting a contour of the vascular region from the vascular region on the section by image processing,

the first generation unit generating a schematic valve image schematically expressing a shape of a cardiac valve based on a shape of the contour,

the specifying unit searching each pixel constituting the schematic valve image along a predetermined direction for a valve pixel associated with the cardiac valve included in the three-dimensional image and specifying whether the valve pixel exists, and

the second generation unit generating a color image expressing an open/close degree of the cardiac valve for each pixel in color based on the schematic valve image and information indicating whether the valve pixel exists.

4. The image processing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the display unit displays the color image.

5. The image processing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the schematic valve image schematically expresses an estimated shape of a normal cardiac valve in an open state and an estimated shape of the normal cardiac valve in a closed state.

6. The image processing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second generation unit assigns the each pixel color information corresponding to a degree of difference between an open/close degree associated with the cardiac valve of the subject and an open/close degree associated with the normal cardiac valve.

7. The image processing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second generation unit generates the color image for a plurality of cardiac phases, and the display unit displays color images associated with the cardiac phases as a moving image.

8. The image processing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the extraction unit extracts a contour of a cardiac valve region from the cardiac valve region on an evaluation section by image processing, and

the display unit displays the color image superimposed the contour of the cardiac valve region on.

9. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to store a three-dimensional image associated with a cardiac region of a subject;

a setting unit configured to set a section crossing a vascular region included in the cardiac region;

a first generation unit configured to generate a sectional image associated with the section based on the three-dimensional image;

a specifying unit configured to search the section along a predetermined direction for a valve pixel associated with a cardiac valve included in the three-dimensional image and specify the presence/absence of the valve pixel for each pixel constituting the sectional image; and

a second generation unit configured to generate a color image expressing the presence/absence of the valve pixel for each pixel in color based on the sectional image and the presence/absence of the valve pixel;

wherein the display unit displays a schematic valve image which schematically expresses shapes of the cardiac valve and also expresses degrees of opening/closing of the cardiac valve in different brightness or colors.

10. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to store a three-dimensional image associated with a cardiac region of a subject;

a setting unit configured to set a section in a vascular region included in the cardiac region;

a specifying unit configured to specify a cardiac valve from the vascular region by image processing;

a generation unit configured to generate a schematic valve image schematically expressing a shape of the cardiac valve; and

a display unit configured to superimpose and display the cardiac valve on the schematic valve image upon alignment;

wherein the display unit displays a schematic valve image which schematically expresses shapes of the cardiac valve and also expresses degrees of opening/closing of the cardiac valve in different brightness or colors.