Method and apparatus for forming images and image furnishing service system

Abstract

In a first image forming method, a medical image of an object is inputted, and a normal structure image, which corresponds to the inputted medical image and represents a normal structure of the object, is artificially formed. In a second image forming method, a normal image signal corresponding to a normal image, which is a medical image representing a normal structure of an object, is acquired, a plurality of structure altering vectors for altering the structure of the object are set, and an addition process for adding the plurality of the structure altering vectors to the normal image signal is performed, and a normal structure image signal, which represents a normal structure image of the object, is formed.

1 - 2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . An image forming method, comprising the steps of: 
 i) acquiring a normal image signal corresponding to a normal image, which is a medical image representing a normal structure of an object,    ii) setting a plurality of structure altering vectors for altering the structure of the object, and    iii) performing an addition process for adding the plurality of the structure altering vectors to the normal image signal, whereby a normal structure image signal, which represents a normal structure image of the object, is formed.    
   
   
       4 . An image forming method as defined in  claim 3  wherein the plurality of the structure altering vectors are set such that the normal structure image is obtained as a normal structure image, which corresponds to a medical image having been inputted for detection of an abnormal pattern and is to be compared with the medical image having been inputted for the detection of an abnormal pattern.  
   
   
       5 . An image forming apparatus, comprising: 
 i) normal image signal acquiring means for acquiring a normal image signal corresponding to a normal image, which is a medical image representing a normal structure of an object,    ii) structure altering vector setting means for setting a plurality of structure altering vectors for altering the structure of the object, and    iii) structure altering vector adding means for performing an addition process for adding the plurality of the structure altering vectors to the normal image signal in order to form a normal structure image signal, which represents a normal structure image of the object.    
   
   
       6 . An image forming apparatus as defined in  claim 5  wherein the structure altering vector setting means sets the plurality of the structure altering vectors such that the normal structure image is obtained as a normal structure image, which corresponds to a medical image having been inputted for detection of an abnormal pattern and is to be compared with the medical image having been inputted for the detection of an abnormal pattern.  
   
   
       7 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A computer program for causing a computer to execute image forming processing, the computer program comprising the procedures for: 
 i) acquiring a normal image signal corresponding to a normal image, which is a medical image representing a normal structure of an object,    ii) setting a plurality of structure altering vectors for altering the structure of the object, and    iii) performing an addition process for adding the plurality of the structure altering vectors, which have been set, to the normal image signal, which has been acquired, whereby a normal structure image signal, which represents a normal structure image of the object, is formed.    
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A computer readable recording medium, on which a computer program for causing a computer to execute image forming processing has been recorded and from which the computer is capable of reading the computer program, 
 wherein the computer program comprises the procedures for: 
 i) acquiring a normal image signal corresponding to a normal image, which is a medical image representing a normal structure of an object,  
 ii) setting a plurality of structure altering vectors for altering the structure of the object, and  
 iii) performing an addition process for adding the plurality of the structure altering vectors, which have been set, to the normal image signal, which has been acquired, whereby a normal structure image signal, which represents a normal structure image of the object, is formed.  
   
   
   
       23 .- 24 . (canceled)