System and method for acquiring three-dimensional data subject to practical constraints by integrating CT slice data and CT scout images

• US 6,023,495 A
• Filed: 05/15/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Adler, Roy Lee, Wu, Chai Wah, Tresser, Charles P., Margulies, Joseph Y., Kalvin, Alan David
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruce, David Vernon
• Application Number:
  US09/079,515
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/901, 382/131
• US Class Current: 378/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4085 Cone-beams
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/488 involving pre-scan acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/505 for diagnosis of bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 378/901 Computer tomography program or processor

Abstract

A computer system and method solve the problem of getting a useful three-dimensional representation of an object like the spine using a small amount of data. This is done by gathering and combining three-dimensional data in the form of (a) a set of 2D computer tomography (CT) slices of a patient'"'"'s bones with (b) a set of 2D CT scout images, which are digital two-dimensional X-ray images that can be produced by a CT scanner. The main features of spinal deformation are captured by integrating these two sets of three-dimensional data, and constructing from them a three-dimensional geometric model of the spinal. Scouts are usually used to monitor CT scan acquisition. Here, they are also used as an essential source of data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of three-dimensional modeling of objects comprising the steps of:

collecting two sets of data, each one containing a limited amount of three-dimensional spatial data of a common three-dimensional object, where the amount of data in either set alone is not sufficient to produce an adequate three-dimensional geometric model of the said common object; and

combining these two sets of three-dimensional data to generate a three-dimensional model of said common object.

2. The computer-implemented method in claim 1 used for three-dimensional reconstruction of vertebral bodies of a spine by using a set of 2D computer tomography (CT) slices and a set of 2D CT scout images as the two sets of data, the set of CT slices and the set of CT scout images both having been obtained using a clinically acceptable amount of radiation.

3. The computer-implemented method in claim 2 wherein the step of combining comprises the steps of:

converting the set of CT scout images to 2D tomographic slices using a tomographic reconstruction algorithm;

creating a 3D volume by interleaving the tomographic slices and the set of CT slices;

segmenting an object of interest; and

creating a geometric model of the object of interest.

4. A computer system used to improve the geometric modeling of three-dimensional objects by utilizing two complementary sets of three-dimensional data comprising:

a computer with a memory, a central processing unit (CPU), and a display monitor;

a first data structure resident in said memory and containing a limited amount of three-dimensional data of the shape of a three-dimensional object, where the amount of data in this first data set is not sufficient on its own to allow construction of a satisfactory geometric model of this three-dimensional object;

a second data structure resident in said memory and containing a limited amount of three-dimensional data of the shape of the said three-dimensional object, where the amount of data in this second data set is not sufficient on its own to allow construction of a satisfactory geometric model of this said three-dimensional object; and

a process executed by the CPU, to construct a three-dimensional model of the said object using both and the three-dimensional data sets.

5. The computer system in claim 4 used for three-dimensional reconstruction of the vertebral bodies of the spine by using a set of 2D computer tomography (CT) slices, and a set of 2D CT scout images, as the two sets each having a limited amount of three-dimensional data of a common object, the set of CT slices and the set of CT scout images both having been obtained using a clinically acceptable amount of radiation.