US 6,151,404 AGranted

Anatomical visualization system

AssigneeMedical Media Systems

InventorSteven D. Pieper

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An anatomical visualization system is provided which includes a first database comprising a plurality of 2-D slice images generated by scanning a structure. The 2D slice images are stored in a first data format. A second database comprising a 3-D computer model of the scanned structure is also provided. The 3-D computer model includes a first software object defined by a 3-D geometry database. Apparatus is provided for inserting a second software object into the 3-D computer model so as to augment the 3-D computer model. The second software object is defined by a 3-D geometry database, and includes a planar surface. Apparatus for determining the specific 2-D slice image associated with the position of the planar surface of the second software object within the augmented 3-D computer model are provided in a preferred embodiment. Also provided are apparatus for texture mapping the specific 2-D slice image onto the planar surface of the second software object. Display apparatus is provided for displaying an image of the augmented 3-D computer model so as to simultaneously provide a view of the first software object and the specific 2-D slice image texture mapped onto the planar surface of the second software object. In another form of the invention, apparatus and method are provided for determining patient-specific anatomical dimensions using appropriate scanned 2-D slice image information.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A system for determining patient-specific anatomical dimensions for structures which have a branching configuration using scanned 2-D image data, said system comprising:

a set of scanned 2-D images assembled into a 3-D database, said 3-D database comprising a volumetric data set;
means for segmenting said volumetric data set into a set of 3-D locations corresponding to a specific anatomical structure to be measured;
means for defining a plurality of 2-D image planes parallel to and spaced from one another and transversely intersecting said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said specific anatomical structure, each of said 2-D image planes including a set of co-ordinates located within said anatomical structure to be measured;
means for specifying, for each branching structure contained within said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said specific anatomical structure, a branch line in said volumetric data set that uniquely indicates said branch structure, said branch line being specified by a start location and an end location disposed in selected first and second ones of said plurality of 2-D image planes, respectively;
means for calculating, for each branching structure contained within said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said specific anatomical structure, a centroid path in said volumetric data set for that branching structure, said centroid path being determined by averaging said set of co-ordinates located within each of said 2-D image planes between said first and said second ones of said plurality of image planes so as to define a centroid for the portion of said branch structure contained in that particular 2-D image plane, and applying a curve-fitting algorithm to said centroids so as to supply data for any portions of said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said specific anatomical structure which may lie between said 2-D image planes, and for smoothing out noise that may occur in said system, whereby to create resulting space curves;
and,
means for calculating said desired anatomical dimensions from said resulting space curves.

4 more elements

A method for calculating patient-specific anatomical dimensions for structures which have a branching configuration by using 2-D image data, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) assembling a set of scanned 2-D images into a 3-D database, said 3-D database comprising a volumetric data set;
(B) segmenting said volumetric data set into a set of 3-D locations corresponding to a specific anatomical structure to be measured;
(C) defining a plurality of 2-D image planes parallel to and spaced from one another and transversely intersecting said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said specific anatomical structure, each of said 2-D image planes including a set of co-ordinates located within said anatomical structure to be measured;
(D) specifying, for each branching structure contained within said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said specific anatomical structure, a branch line in said volumetric data set that uniquely indicates said branch structure, said branch line being specified by a start location and an end location on two of said set of scanned 2-D images disposed in selected first and second ones of said plurality of 2-D image planes, respectively;
(E) calculating, for each branching structure contained within said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said specific anatomical structure, a centroid path in said volumetric data set for that branching structure, said centroid path being determined by averaging said set of co-ordinates located within each of said 2-D image planes between said first and said second ones of said plurality of image planes so as to define a centroid for the portion of said branch structure contained in that particular 2-D image plane, and applying a curve-fitting algorithm to said centroids so as to supply data for any portions of said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said specific anatomical structure which may lie between said 2-D image planes, and for smoothing out noise that may occur in said system, whereby to create resulting space curves;
and,
(F) calculating said desired anatomical dimensions from said resulting space curves.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/084,637Filed 26 May 1998 · continuation
Priority: 1 Jun 1995
Granted: 21 Nov 2000
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

G06T 7/11
Segmentation; Edge detection: region-based segmentation
G06T 7/66
Analysis of geometric attributes: of image moments or centre of gravity
G06T 17/00
Three-dimensional [3d] modelling for computer graphics
G06T 19/00
Manipulating three-dimensional [3d] models or images for computer graphics