Silhouette blend rendering of anatomical structures
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsDanny Ruijters, Peter Mielekamp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for rendering advantageous images/views of an anatomical structure, e.g., vessel structure(s), and surrounding anatomical features/structures are provided. The disclosed systems and methods combine conventional 3D x-ray rotational angiography (3DRA) with a diagnostic scan of the relevant anatomical region, e.g., a CT or MR scan, to yield a combined image/view thereof. The image includes silhouette rendering of structures and/or vessel anatomy below the CT/MRI slab, i.e., obscured vessel structures, thereby allowing clinicians and other medical/surgical staff to develop a better understanding of vessel morphology and relationships between vessel pathology and surrounding branches/anatomical structures.
Claims18
The method for generating an image, comprising:
- obtaining 3D rotational angiography (3DRA) data set(s) for an anatomical region containing an anatomical structure;
- segmenting the anatomical structure from the 3DRA data set(s);
- obtaining an independent 3D diagnostic data set(s) for the anatomical region, the independent 3D diagnostic data set being different from the 3DRA data set;
- registering the 3DRA and the 3D diagnostic data set(s) in the anatomical region;
- selecting a slab portion of the 3D diagnostic data set(s), the slab portion being smaller than the anatomical region;
- generating a silhouette rendering of a portion of the anatomical structures segmented from the 3DRA data sets(s) which is disposed in the slab portion, the silhouette rendering depicting only edges of the segmented anatomical structure, the edges being distinguishable from the slab portion when the silhouette rendering is combined with the slab portion;
- combining a portion of the segmented 3DRA data set(s) that is disposed outside of the slab, the silhouette rendering of the portion of the anatomical structures segmented from the 3DRA data set(s) that is disposed in the slab portion, and the slab portion of the 3D diagnostic data set(s);
- and
- generating an image that combines:
- the slab portion of the 3D diagnostic data set(s),
- a surface or volume rendering of the anatomical structure segmented from the 3DRA data set(s) disposed outside of the slab portion, and
- the silhouette rendering of the portion of anatomical structure in the slab portion.
The system for generating an image, comprising:
- a) at least one computer storage unit that includes one or more databases;
- and
- b) at least one processing unit in communication with the at least one computer storage unit and being programmed to:
- i. segment an anatomical structure from 3D rotational angiography (3DRA) data set(s) of an anatomical region associated with the anatomical structure with a surface or volume rendering;
- ii. select a slab portion of 3D diagnostic data set(s) associated with a region smaller than the segmented anatomical structure;
- iii. generate a silhouette rendering depicting a portion of the segmented anatomical structure obscured by the slab portion;
- iv. combine the slab portion of the 3D diagnostic data set(s), the surface or volume rendering of the anatomical structure segmented from the 3DRA data set(s) not obscured by the slab portion, and the silhouette rendering of the portion of the anatomical structure obscured by the slab portion, the silhouette rendering depicting only edges of the anatomical structure and when the silhouette rendering is combined with the slab portion, the slab portion is visible between the edges.
A diagnostic imaging system comprising:
- one or more processors programmed to:
- segment blood vessels from 3DRA data to generate a 3D surface image presentation of the blood vessels,
- generate a 3D slab image of a region in which a portion of the segmented blood vessels are located and obscured;
- combine the slab image and the segmented blood vessels such that a portion of the segmented blood vessels which are not obscured by the slab image are displayed as a surface or volume rendering and the portion of the segmented vessels that are obscured by the slab are displayed as a silhouette, the silhouette depicting only edges of the anatomical structure, the edges being distinguishable from the slab image when the slab image and the segmented blood vessels are combined.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.