System and method for tree-model visualization for pulmonary embolism detection

A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a processor to perform method steps for tree-model visualization to detect an abnormality in an anatomical tree structure, the method steps comprising:

• fitting a tree-model to a three-dimensional (3D) image of a segmented anatomical tree structure, said fitting further comprising the steps of:
• defining a root site for the anatomical tree structure;
• computing a skeleton of the segmented anatomical tree structure;
• forming a raw tree-structure using the skeleton;
• eliminating false branches in the raw tree-structure;
• smoothing and centering the skeleton;
• and
• assigning direction vectors to points in the segmented anatomical tree structure;
• converting each branch of the tree-model into a two-dimensional (2D) branch image;
• and
• forming a 2D image that presents the 2D branch images.

A system for tree-model visualization for detecting an abnormality in an anatomical tree structure, comprising:

• a memory device for storing a program;
• a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to:
• fit a tree-model to a three-dimensional (3D) image of a segmented anatomical tree structure, the fitting further comprising the steps of:
• define a root site for the anatomical tree structure;
• compute a skeleton of the segmented anatomical tree structure;
• form a raw tree-structure using the skeleton;
• eliminate false branches in the raw tree-structure;
• smooth and center the skeleton;
• and
• assign direction vectors to points in the segmented anatomical tree structure;
• convert each branch of the tree-model into a two-dimensional (2D) branch image;
• and
• form a 2D image that presents the 2D branch images.