Image processing apparatus, imaging system and image processing method

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire band images of an object, using filters of which transmission center wavelengths are different from each another; a detection unit configured to select a first band image from the band images, and detect a target region that is to be improved with respect to visibility; a selection unit configured to select a second band image, which includes information, originated from a structure of the object, within the target region, from among the band images other than the first band image; and a generation unit configured to generate a spectral image from a band image. The generation unit uses at least a band image that has been captured using a same filter as the second band image, upon generating a spectral image of the object.

1 . An image processing apparatus generating a spectral image, the image processing apparatus comprising:
 an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of band images which are generated by imaging an object, using a plurality of filters of which transmission center wavelengths are different from each another;   a detection unit configured to select a first band image from the plurality of band images, and detect a target region that is to be improved with respect to visibility within the first band image;   a selection unit configured to select a second band image, which includes information, originated from a structure of the object, within the target region, from among the plurality of band images other than the first band image; and   a generation unit configured to generate a spectral image from a band image.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a calculation unit configured to calculate, for each pixel of each band image, an index indicating dispersion of pixel values of a plurality of pixels in a vicinity area of each of the pixels,
 wherein the detection unit detects the target region in the first band image, based on the index.   
     
     
         3 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a region specification unit configured to display an image of the object on a display device and allow a user to specify a partial region in the displayed image, wherein
 the detection unit detects, as the target region, a region which is inside the partial region of the first band image and has the index that is smaller than a threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the selection unit selects, as the second band image, a band image of which statistical value of the index in the target region is greater than the first band image. 
     
     
         5 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the selection unit selects, as the second band image, a band image of which statistical value of the index in the target region is greatest. 
     
     
         6 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the statistical value is an RMS value, a mean value or a maximum value. 
     
     
         7 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the index is a local contrast value in the vicinity area. 
     
     
         8 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit selects, as the first band image, a band image that corresponds to an absorption peak wavelength of the object. 
     
     
         9 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, upon generating a spectral image of the object or a spectral image of another object having a same spectral characteristic as the object, the generation unit uses at least:
 a band image that has been captured using a same filter as the second band image; and   a band image that has been captured using a filter which has a transmission center wavelength in a predetermined range of which center is one of an absorption peak wavelength of the object, a peak wavelength of a light source used for capturing the band image, and a wavelength corresponding to a principal component of a spectral distribution of the object.   
     
     
         10 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the object is a pathological specimen. 
     
     
         11 . An imaging system comprising:
 a multi-band imaging apparatus configured to capture a band image of an object using a plurality of filters, of which transmission center wavelengths are different from each other; and   the image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , configured to acquire a plurality of band images of the object which have been captured by the multi-band imaging apparatus, and generate a spectral image.   
     
     
         12 . An image processing method for generating a spectral image, the image processing method comprising the steps of:
 acquiring a plurality of band images which are generated by imaging an object, using a plurality of filters of which transmission center wavelengths are different from each other;   selecting a first band image from the plurality of band images and detecting a target region that is to be improved with respect to visibility within the first band image;   selecting a second band image, which includes information, originated from a structure of the object, within the target region, from among the plurality of band images other than the first band image; and   using at least a band image that has been captured using a same filter as the second band image, upon generating a spectral image of the object or a spectral image of another object having a same spectral characteristic as the object.   
     
     
         13 . An imaging processing apparatus, comprising:
 an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of band images which are generated by imaging an object, using a plurality of filters of which transmission center wavelengths are different from each other;   a detection unit configured to select a first band image from the plurality of band images, and detect a target region that is to be improved with respect to visibility within the first band image;   a selection unit configured to select a second band image which includes information, originated from the structure of the object, within the target region, from among the plurality of band images other than the first band image; and   a generation unit configured to generate a display image, of which component of a band image captured using a same filter as the second band image is enhanced, based on one band image or a plurality of band images acquired by imaging the object or another object having a same spectral characteristic as the object.   
     
     
         14 . An imaging system comprising: a multi-band imaging apparatus configured to capture a band image of an object, using a plurality of filters of which transmission center wavelengths are different from each other; and
 the image processing apparatus according to  claim 13 , configured to acquire a plurality of band images of the object which have been captured by the multi-band imaging apparatus, and generate a display image.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled)