PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an image processor capable of easily setting a two-dimensional region of interest in a short time in which a boundary forming the surface of a massive tissue runs through maximally in a three-dimensional region of interest.SOLUTION: When setting the two-dimensional region 61 of interest, markers 93 and 94 are set on a linear surface of the massive tissue to form the two-dimensional region 61 of interest whose area or length is substantially uniformly divided by a straight line 95 formed by connecting the markers 93 and 94, so that the surface image is maximally included in the three-dimensional region 67 of interest formed by expanding the two-dimensional region 61 of interest in a home position, in a machine scanning direction. This method can dispense with a repetitive operation by an operator for drawing an optimal three-dimensional image and provide a three-dimensional display in a short time.COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT【課題】塊状組織の表面をなす境界が、3次元関心領域に最大限行き渡る様な2次元関心領域を、容易に短時間で設定することができる超音波撮像装置および画像処理装置を実現する。【解決手段】2次元関心領域61を設定する際に、塊状組織の直線状の表面にマーカ93および94を設定し、マーカ93および94を結ぶ直線95により概ね面積または長さが均等に分割される2次元関心領域61を生成することとしているので、ホームポジションにある2次元関心領域61を、機械走査方向に拡張して生成される3次元関心領域67に、表面画像が最大限含まれるようにし、ひいてはオペレータによる最適な立体画像を描出するための繰り返し操作をなくし、短時間で立体表示を行うことを実現させる。【選択図】図10
