System for accurately obtaining a contour and/or quantitative information from an echo image with reduced manual operation

摘要

A system for analyzing an echo image containing a contour of an organ with reduced manual operation is provided. The echo image is first obtained. A user manually sets, say, four points as known or initial points such that two of the known points provide a width of the contour and the other two of the known points provide a height of the contour. A search region including a connecting line segment connecting each pair of adjacent ones of the known points is set on the contour. A search line segment that originates from a point bisecting the connecting line segment of the search region and reaches an end of the search region is set. Each search line segment is sought for a contour point constituting the contour. A contour is formed by connecting the contour points on the search line segments. Three points may be set as the initial points such that two of the initial points provide a width of the contour and the other one is on top of the contour.