Method and system for producing interactive, three-dimensional renderings of selected body organs having hollow lumens to enable simulated movement through the lumen

A method for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising the steps of;

• A. forming a three-dimensional volume of data from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;
• B. segmenting a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the step of segmenting the selected region of interest comprises a thresholding step for determining threshold values corresponding to the selected values of the physical property to isolate the selected region of interest, wherein the thresholding step comprises:
• a. a threshold selection step for selecting a threshold range corresponding to the selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest;
• and
• b. a threshold adjustment step for adjusting the threshold values to provide the threshold range for isolating the selected region of interest;
• and
• c. rendering the segmented region of interest as a surface rendering in an interactive three-dimensional display.

A method for interactively displaying a colon in three dimensions comprising:

• a. an image acquisition step wherein a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the colon is acquired;
• b. a volume formation step wherein a three-dimensional volume of data is formed by stacking the series of two-dimensional images in computer memory;
• c. a segmentation step wherein a region of interest related to the colon is segmented from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the region of interest;
• and
• d. a rendering step wherein the segmented region of interest is rendered as a surface rendering in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment, and wherein the rendering step comprises a volume rendering step for rendering selected volumes adjacent the segmented region of interest.

A method for interactively displayiny a colon in three dimensions comprising:

• a. an image acquisition step wherein a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the colon is acquired;
• b. a volume formation step wherein a three-dimensional volume of data is formed by stacking the series of two-dimensional images in computer memory;
• c. a data reduction step for reducing the size of the volume of data, wherein the size of the volume of data is reduced to less than about 10 megabytes;
• d. a segmentation step wherein a region of interest related to the colon is segmented from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical properly representing the region of interest;
• and
• e. a rendering step wherein the segmented region of interest is rendered in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment.

A method for interactively displaying a tracheobronchial airway in three dimensions comprising:

• a. an image acquisition step wherein a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the tracheobronchial tree is acquired;
• b. a volume formation step wherein a three-dimensional volume of data is formed by stacking the series of two-dimensional images in computer memory;
• c. a segmentation step wherein a region of interest is segmented from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the region of interest;
• and
• d. a rendering step wherein the segmented region of interest is rendered as a surface rendering in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment, and wherein the rendering step comprises a volume rendering step.

A method for interactively displaying a tracheobronchial airway in three dimensions comprising:

• a. an image acquisition step wherein a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the tracheobronchial tree is acquired;
• b. a volume formation step wherein a three-dimensional volume of data is formed by stacking the series of two-dimensional image in computer memory;
• c. a segmentation step wherein a region of interest is segmented from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the region of interest;
• d. a data reduction step for reducing the size of the volume of data before rendering the segmented region of interest, wherein the reduction step comprises creating a subvolume of data, wherein the subvolume comprises the mediastinum;
• and
• e. a surface rendering step wherein the segmented region of interest is rendered as a surface rendering in an interactive three-dimensional display.

A method for interactively displaying a tracheobronchial airway in three dimensions comprising:

• a. an image acquisition step wherein a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the tracheobronchial tree is acquired;
• b. a volume formation step wherein a three-dimensional volume of data is formed by stacking the series of two-dimensional image in computer memory;
• c. a segmentation step wherein a region of interest is segmented from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the region of interest;
• d. a data reduction step for reducing the size of the volume of data before rendering the segmented region of interest, wherein the size of the data is reduced to less than about 10 megabytes;
• and
• e. a surface rendering step wherein the segmented region of interest is rendered as a surface rendering in an interactive three-dimensional display.

A system for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising:

• a. volume formation means for forming a three-dimensional volume of data from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;
• b. segmentation means for segmenting a region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest;
• and
• c. rendering means for rendering the segmented region of interest as a surface rendering in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment, and wherein the rendering means comprises a volume rendering means for rendering selected volumes adjacent the segmented region of interest.

A system for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising:

• a. volume formation means for forming a three-dimensional volume of data from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;
• b. segmentation means for segmenting a region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the segmentation means comprises a thresholding means for determining a threshold range used to isolate the region of interest and wherein the thresholding means comprises:
• 1. a threshold selection means for selecting the threshold values;
• and
• 2. a threshold adjustment means for adjusting the threshold values;
• and
• c. a surface renderer for rendering the segmented region of interest as a surface rendering in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment.

A method for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising the steps of:

• A. forming a three-dimensional volume of data from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;
• B. segmenting a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the step of segmenting the selected region of interest comprises a thresholding step for determining threshold values corresponding to the selected values of the physical Property to isolate the selected region of interest, wherein the step of segmenting the selected region of interest comprises a morphological dilation step;
• and
• C. rendering the segmented region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display.

A system for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising:

• a. volume formation means for forming a three-dimensional volume of data from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;
• b. segmentation means for segmenting a region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the segmentation means comprises a thresholding means for determining a threshold range used to isolate the region of interest and a morphological dilation means for adjusting the segmented region of interest;
• and
• c. rendering means for rendering the segmented region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display.

A method for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising the steps of:

• A. forming a three-dimensional volume of data from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body, wherein the three-dimensional volume of data comprises a three-dimensional matrix of voxels;
• B. segmenting a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the segmentation step comprises the steps of:
• i. undersegmenting the selected region of interest from the volume of data;
• and
• ii. adding a layer of voxels to the undersegmented region of interest to form a segmented region of interest;
• and
• C. rendering the segmented region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment.

A system for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising:

• a. volume formation means for forming a three-dimensional volume of data from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;
• b. segmentation means for segmenting a region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the segmentation means comprises:
• i. undersegmentation means for undersegmenting the region of interest from the volume of data;
• and
• ii. morphological dilation means for adding a layer of voxels to the undersegmented region of interest to form a segmented region of interest;
• and
• c. rendering means for rendering the segmented region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment.

A method for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising the steps of:

• A. forming a three-dimensional volume of data from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;
• B. segmenting a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest;
• and
• C. rendering the segmented region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment, wherein the rendering step comprises an opacity adjusting step for adjusting opacity values.

A method for interactively displaying a colon in three dimensions comprising:

• a. an image acquisition step wherein a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the colon is acquired;
• b. a volume formation step wherein a three-dimensional volume of data is formed by stacking the series of two-dimensional images in computer memory;
• c. a segmentation step wherein a region of interest related to the colon is segmented from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the region of interest;
• and
• d. a rendering step wherein the segmented region of interest is rendered in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment, wherein the rendering step comprises an opacity adjusting step for adjusting opacity values.

A method for interactively displaying a tracheobronchial airway in three dimensions comprising:

• a. an image acquisition step wherein a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the tracheobronchial tree is acquired;
• b. a volume formation step wherein a three-dimensional volume of data is formed by stacking the series of two-dimensional image in computer memory;
• c. a segmentation step wherein a region of interest is segmented from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the region of interest;
• and
• d. a rendering step wherein the segmented region of interest is rendered in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment, wherein the rendering step comprises an opacity adjusting step for adjusting opacity values.

A system for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising:

• a. volume formation means for forming a three-dimensional volume of data from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;
• b. segmentation means for segmenting a region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest;
• and
• c. rendering means for rendering the segmented region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display, therein producing a virtual three-dimensional environment, wherein the rendering means comprises an opacity adjusting means for adjusting opacity values.