System and method for next-generation MRI spine evaluation
AssigneeSiemens Healthcare GmbH
InventorsAtilla Peter Kiraly, David Liu, Shaohua Kevin Zhou, Dorin Comaniciu, Gunnar Krüger
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Abstract
A method of visualizing spinal nerves includes receiving a 3D image volume depicting a spinal cord and a plurality of spinal nerves. For each spinal nerve, a 2D spinal nerve image is generated by defining a surface within the 3D volume comprising the spinal nerve. The surface is curved such that it passes through the spinal cord while encompassing the spinal nerve. Then, the 2D spinal nerve images are generated based on voxels on the surface included in the 3D volume. A visualization of the 2D spinal images is presented in a graphical user interface that allows each 2D spinal image to be viewed simultaneously.
Claims10
A method of visualizing spinal nerves, the method
- comprising:
- receiving a 3D image volume depicting a spinal cord and a plurality of spinal nerves;
- for each spinal nerve, generating a 2D spinal nerve image by:
- defining a surface within the 3D volume comprising the spinal nerve, wherein the surface is curved such that it passes through the spinal cord while encompassing the spinal nerve, and
- generating the 2D spinal nerve images based on voxels on the surface included in the 3D volume;
- presenting a visualization of the 2D spinal images in a graphical user interface that allows each 2D spinal image to be viewed simultaneously.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.