Ease of image annotation via curved planar reformation

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• accessing, by a system operatively coupled to a processor, a first three-dimensional medical image depicting an original version of a tubular anatomical structure having a centerline along a radial center of a tubular core of the tubular anatomical structure that follows a non-linear three-dimensional path;
• generating, by the system, generates a second three-dimensional medical image, by straightening the first three-dimensional medical image about the centerline, such that the second three-dimensional medical image depicts a straightened version of the tubular anatomical structure having the centerline that follows a linear three-dimensional path;
• generating, by the system, a third three-dimensional medical image, by inserting an annotation received via user input into the second three-dimensional medical image, such that the third three-dimensional medical image depicts the annotation and the straightened version of the tubular anatomical structure;
• and
• generating, by the system, a fourth three-dimensional medical image, by un-straightening the third three-dimensional medical image about the centerline of the tubular anatomical structure, such that the fourth three-dimensional medical image depicts both the original version of the tubular anatomical structure having the centerline that follows the non-linear three-dimensional path and an un-straightened version of the annotation that has been generated based on a transformation of the centerline of the straightened version of the tubular anatomical structure from the linear three-dimensional path to the non-linear three-dimensional path.

A computer program product for facilitating improved ease of image annotation via curved planar reformation, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable memory having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

• access a medical image depicting an original version of a tubular anatomical structure having a centerline along a radial center of a tubular core of the tubular anatomical structure that follows a non-linear three-dimensional path;
• localize the centerline of the tubular anatomical structure;
• import the medical image from an original image space to a straightened image space, by applying the curved planar reformation based on the centerline, such that the straightened image space depicts a straightened medical image comprising a straightened version of the tubular anatomical structure having the centerline that follows a linear three-dimensional path;
• apply an annotation received via user input to the straightened medical image in the straightened image space;
• import the straightened medical image and the annotation from the straightened image space to the original image space, by applying an inverse of the curved planar reformation, such that the original image space comprises an annotated medical image that depicts both the original version of the tubular anatomical structure having the centerline that follows the non-linear three-dimensional path and an un-straightened version of the annotation that has been generated based on a transformation of the centerline of the straightened version of the tubular anatomical structure from the linear three-dimensional path to the non-linear three-dimensional path;
• and
• render the annotated medical image and the un-straightened version of the annotation in the original image space on an electronic display.