Image generating apparatus, image generating method, and program

Abstract

An image generating apparatus of the present invention has a determination unit that sets a target area in a part of an area inside a subject, executes processing to adjust a phase of each detection signal based on a distance from each detection element to a target area and a tentative velocity, and calculate dispersion of intensities of a plurality of detection signals of which phases are adjusted, for a plurality of tentative velocities, and determines a velocity for which dispersion of intensities is minimum, out of the plurality of tentative velocities, as a propagation velocity.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for determining a propagation velocity of an acoustic wave caused by irradiation of light on an object, the apparatus comprising:
 a determination unit configured to determine the propagation velocity of the acoustic wave for generating a photoacoustic image based on a signal obtained by detecting the acoustic wave,   wherein the determination unit is configured to set, based on an ultrasonic image obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave, a target position, and determine, based on the signal corresponding to the target position, the propagation velocity.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set the target position based on an instruction from a user for the ultrasonic image. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set a target area including the target position selected by the user in the ultrasonic image, and determine, based on the signal corresponding to the target area, the propagation velocity. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set the target position by analyzing the ultrasonic image. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, based on a luminance value of the ultrasonic image, the target position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, as the target position, a position having the highest luminance value in the ultrasonic image. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, based on contrast in the ultrasonic image, the target position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, as the target position, a position having the highest contrast in the ultrasonic image. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, as the target position, a position including a blood vessel in the ultrasonic image. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set a target area including the target position, and determine, based on the signal corresponding to the target area, the propagation velocity. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, as the target area, an area in a range of a predetermined number of pixels or voxels from the target position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set a tentative propagation velocity and determine, based on the tentative propagation velocity and a distance between a detection position of the acoustic wave and the target position, the signal corresponding to the target position. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the determination unit is configured to execute a process of determining, based on the tentative propagation velocity and the distance between the detection position of the acoustic wave and the target position, the signal corresponding to the target position, for each of a plurality of the tentative propagation velocities and determine, based on the signal corresponding to the target position for each of the plurality of the tentative propagation velocities, the propagation velocity. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, based on the ultrasonic image which is two-dimensional pixel data, the target position. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for determining a propagation velocity of an acoustic wave caused by irradiation of light on an object, the apparatus comprising:
 a determination unit configured to determine the propagation velocity of the acoustic wave for generating a photoacoustic image based on a signal obtained by detecting the acoustic wave,   wherein the determination unit is configured to set, based on image data generated by an image generating apparatus, a target position, and determine, based on the signal corresponding to the target position, the propagation velocity.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set the target position based on an instruction from a user for the image data. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set a target area including the target position selected by a user in the image data and determine, based on the signal corresponding to the target area, the propagation velocity. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set the target position by analyzing the image data. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, based on a luminance value of the image data, the target position. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, as the target position, a position having the highest luminance value in the image data. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, based on contrast in the image data, the target position. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, as the target position, a position having the highest contrast in the image data. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, as the target position, a position including a blood vessel in the image data. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set a target area including the target position, and determine, based on the signal corresponding to the target area, the propagation velocity. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, as the target area, an area in a range of a predetermined number of pixels or voxels from the target position. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set a tentative propagation velocity and determine, based on the tentative propagation velocity and a distance between a detection position of the acoustic wave and the target position, the signal corresponding to the target position. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the determination unit is configured to execute a process of determining, based on the tentative propagation velocity and the distance between the detection position of the acoustic wave and the target position, the signal corresponding to the target position, for each of a plurality of the tentative propagation velocities, and determine, based on the signal corresponding to the target position for each of the plurality of the tentative propagation velocities, the propagation velocity. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the determination unit is configured to set, based on the image data which is two-dimensional pixel data, the target position. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the image data is an image data generated by an X-ray apparatus, a CT apparatus or an MRI apparatus as the image generating apparatus. 
     
     
         31 . A method for determining a propagation velocity of an acoustic wave caused by irradiation of light on an object, the method comprising:
 setting, based on an ultrasonic image obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave, a target position; and   determining the propagation velocity of the acoustic wave for generating a photoacoustic image based on a signal obtained by detecting the acoustic wave,   wherein, in the step of determining the propagation velocity of the acoustic wave, the propagation velocity of the acoustic wave is determined based on the signal corresponding to the target position.   
     
     
         32 . A method for determining a propagation velocity of an acoustic wave caused by irradiation of light on an object, the method comprising:
 setting, based on an image data generated by an image generating apparatus, a target position; and   determining the propagation velocity of the acoustic wave for generating a photoacoustic image based on a signal obtained by detecting the acoustic wave,   wherein, in the step of determining the propagation velocity of the acoustic wave, the propagation velocity of the acoustic wave is determined based on the signal corresponding to the target position.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the image data is an image data generated by an X-ray apparatus, a CT apparatus or an MRI apparatus as the image generating apparatus. 
     
     
         34 . A non-transitory computer readable medium recording a program for causing a computer to perform each steps of the method according to  claim 31 . 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer readable medium recording a program for causing a computer to perform each steps of the method according to  claim 32 .