Anatomical visualization and measurement system

• US 20050147283A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astute Imaging LLC
• Original Assignee: M2S, Inc. (Medstreaming, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, David, Chapman, M. Weston, Dwyer, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10072 Tomographic images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10081 Computed x-ray tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20044 Skeletonization; Medial axis transform
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20101 Interactive definition of point of interest, landmark or seed
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20108 Interactive selection of 2D slice in a 3D data set
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30101 Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/187 involving region growing; involving region merging; involving connected component labelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/66 of image moments or centre of gravity

Abstract

A computer-based visualization system for visualizing anatomical structure and a graft implant to be deployed adjacent the anatomical structure, comprising: a 3-D computer model of the anatomical structure to be visualized, the 3-D computer model comprising at least one first software object which corresponds to the anatomical structure to be visualized; a database of second software objects, wherein at least one of the second software objects corresponds to a graft implant which is to be deployed adjacent the anatomical structure; selection apparatus for permitting a user to select at least one of the second software objects; registration apparatus for positioning the selected at least one of the second software objects into the 3-D computer model so as to create an augmented 3-D computer model; and processing apparatus for generating an image of the augmented 3-D computer model.

Claims

1. A computer-based visualization system for visualizing anatomical structure and a graft implant which is to be deployed adjacent the anatomical structure, comprising:

a 3-D computer model of the anatomical structure which is to be visualized, said 3-D computer model comprising at least one first software object, wherein said at least one first software object corresponds to the anatomical structure which is to be visualized;

a database of second software objects, wherein at least one of said second software objects corresponds to a graft implant which is to be deployed adjacent the anatomical structure;

selection apparatus for permitting a user to select said at least one of said second software objects;

registration apparatus for positioning said selected at least one of said second software objects into said 3-D computer model so as to create an augmented 3-D computer model, with said selected at least one of said second software objects being positioned in said augmented 3-D computer model in proper registration with said at least one first software object contained in said augmented 3-D model; and

processing apparatus for generating an image of said augmented 3-D computer model so as to simultaneously provide a view of said at least one first software object and said selected at least one second software object.

2. A method for visualizing anatomical structure and a graft implant which is to be deployed adjacent the anatomical structure, comprising:

providing a 3-D computer model of the anatomical structure which is to be visualized, said 3-D computer model comprising at least one first software object, wherein said at least one first software object corresponds to the anatomical structure which is to be visualized;

providing a database of second software objects, wherein at least one of said second software objects corresponds to a graft implant which is to be deployed adjacent the anatomical structure;

selecting said at least one of said second software objects;

positioning said selected at least one of said second software objects into said 3-D computer model so as to create an augmented 3-D computer model, with said selected at least one of said second software objects being positioned in said augmented 3-D computer model in proper registration with said at least one first software object contained in said augmented 3-D model; and

generating an image of said augmented 3-D computer model so as to simultaneously provide a view of said at least one first software object and said selected at least one second software object.

3. A visualization system comprising:

a first database comprising a plurality of 2-D slice images generated by scanning an anatomical structure, said 2-D slice images being stored in a first data format;

a second database comprising a 3-D computer model of said scanned anatomical structure, said 3-D computer model comprising at least one first software object, said at least one first software object being defined by a 3-D geometry database;

insertion apparatus for selectively inserting a second software object into said 3-D computer model so as to augment said 3-D computer model, said second software object being defined by a 3-D geometry database and including a planar surface;

determining apparatus for determining the specific 2-D slice image associated with the position of said planar surface of said second software object when said second software object is inserted within said augmented 3-D computer model;

texture mapping apparatus for texture mapping said specific 2-D slice image onto said planar surface of said second software object when said second software object is inserted within said augmented 3-D computer model;

a third database of third software objects, wherein at least one of said third software objects corresponds to a graft implant which is to be deployed adjacent the scanned anatomical structure;

selection apparatus for permitting a user to select said at least one of said third software objects;

registration apparatus for selectively positioning said selected at least one of said third software objects into said augmented 3-D computer model, with said selected at least one of said third software objects being positioned in said augmented 3-D computer model in proper registration with said at least one first software object contained in said augmented 3-D model; and

display apparatus for displaying an image of said augmented 3-D computer model so as to simultaneously provide a view of said (i) first software object;

(ii) said specific 2-D slice image texture mapped onto said planar surface of said second software object when said second software object is inserted within said augmented 3-D computer model; and

(iii) said at least one of said third software objects when said at least on one of said third software objects is positioned within said augmented 3-D computer model.

4. A method for visualizing structure, comprising:

providing a first database comprising a plurality of 2-D slice images generated by scanning an anatomical structure, said 2-D slice images being stored in a first data format;

providing a second database comprising a 3-D computer model of said scanned anatomical structure, said 3-D computer model comprising at least one first software object, said at least one first software object being defined by a 3-D geometry database;

providing insertion apparatus for selectively inserting a second software object into said 3-D computer model so as to augment said 3-D computer model, said second software object being defined by a 3-D geometry database and including a planar surface;

providing determining apparatus for determining the specific 2-D slice image associated with the position of said planar surface of said second software object when said second software object is inserted within said augmented 3-D computer model;

providing texture mapping apparatus for texture mapping said specific 2-D slice image onto said planar surface of said second software object when said second software object is inserted within said augmented 3-D computer model;

providing a third database of third software objects, wherein at least one of said third software objects corresponds to a graft implant which is to be deployed adjacent the scanned anatomical structure;

selecting said at least one of said third software objects;

positioning said selected at least one of said third software objects into said augmented 3-D computer model, with said selected at least one of said third software objects being positioned in said augmented 3-D computer model in proper registration with said at least one first software object contained in said augmented 3-D model; and

displaying an image of said augmented 3-D computer model so as to simultaneously provide a view of (i) said first software object;

(ii) said at least one of said third software objects; and

(iii) said specific 2-D slice image texture mapped onto said planar surface of said second software object when said second software object is inserted within said augmented 3-D computer model.