# US 7,746,340 B2 · Method and apparatus for generating a 2D image having pixels corresponding to voxels of a 3D image > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,340 B2 - Document ID: US7746340B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/398,210 - Filed: 2006-04-04 - Published: 2006-11-09 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-04-13 - Assignees: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Inventors: Charles Florin; Romain Moreau-Gobard; James P. Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746340B2 ## CPC - G06T 12/30: Image post-processing, e.g. metal artefact correction - G06T 15/08: Volume rendering - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Disclosed is a method and apparatus for generating a two dimensional (2D) image of a structure (e.g., an organ) that has at least one pixel corresponding to at least one voxel of a three dimensional (3D) image of the structure. First, the surface of the structure in the 3D image is modeled by a geometrical volume such as an ellipsoid. Next, normal maximum intensity projection (MIP) rays are cast (i.e., projected) for voxels of the geometrical volume. The 2D image is then generated using the rays. The 2D image has at least one pixel that corresponds to at least one voxel of the 3D image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for generating a two dimensional (2D) image of a surface of a structure having at least one pixel corresponding to at least one voxel of a three dimensional (3D) image of said structure comprising: modeling at a computer a geometrical volume based on the surface of said structure in said 3D image; projecting at the computer normal maximum intensity projection (MIP) rays for voxels of the geometrical volume toward an interior of the structure; and generating at the computer said 2D image having said at least one pixel corresponding to said at least one voxel of said 3D image using said MIP rays. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying at least one of said 3D image and said 2D image. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising positioning said 3D image to highlight a particular voxel corresponding to a selected pixel of said 2D image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein said positioning of said 3D image further comprises at least one of scaling said structure in said 3D image and rotating said structure in said 3D image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling selection of a particular pixel of said 2D image. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein said enabling a selection of a particular pixel of said 2D image further comprises enabling a selection of a ray of said 2D image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising displaying said 3D image to highlight a vessel that corresponds to said ray. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising displaying said 3D image to highlight a region of interest that corresponds to said ray. ### Claim 9 A computer readable non-transitory storage medium comprising computer program instructions capable of being executed in a processor and defining the steps comprising: modeling a geometrical volume based on a surface of a structure in a 3D image; projecting normal maximum intensity projection (MIP) rays for voxels of said geometrical volume toward an interior of the structure; and generating a 2D image of the surface of the structure having at least one pixel corresponding to at least one voxel of said 3D image using said MIP rays. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 9 further comprising computer program instructions defining the step of displaying said structure to highlight a particular voxel corresponding to a selected pixel of said 2D image. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 10 wherein said step of displaying comprises at least one of scaling said 3D image and rotating said 3D image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 9 further comprising computer program instructions defining the step of enabling a selection of a particular pixel of said 2D image. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 12 wherein said step of enabling a selection of a particular pixel of said 2D image further comprises enabling a selection of a ray of said 2D image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 wherein said step of enabling a selection of said ray of said 2D image further comprises displaying said 3D image in a manner to highlight a vessel that corresponds to said ray. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 wherein said step of enabling a selection of said ray of said 2D image further comprises displaying said 3D image in a manner to highlight a region of interest that corresponds to said ray. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for generating a two dimensional (2D) image of a surface of a structure having at least one pixel corresponding to at least one voxel of a three dimensional (3D) image of said structure comprising: means for modeling a geometrical volume based on the surface of said structure in said 3D image; means for projecting normal maximum intensity projection (MIP) rays for voxels of the geometrical volume toward an interior of the structure; and means for generating said 2D image having said at least one pixel corresponding to said at least one voxel of said 3D image using said MIP rays. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means for displaying at least one of said 3D image and said 2D image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising means for positioning said 3D image to highlight a particular voxel corresponding to a selected pixel of said 2D image. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for positioning of said 3D image further comprises at least one of means for scaling said structure in said 3D image and means for rotating said structure in said 3D image. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means for enabling selection of a particular pixel of said 2D image. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for enabling a selection of a particular pixel of said 2D image further comprises means for enabling a selection of a ray of said 2D image. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for positioning said 3D image to highlight a vessel that corresponds to said ray. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for positioning said 3D image to highlight a region of interest that corresponds to said ray.