Method and system for producing interactive, three-dimensional renderings of selected body organs having hollow lumens to enable simulated movement through the lumen

• US 6,694,163 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
• Original Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
• Inventors: Vining, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US09/594,383
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/425, 378/4, 378/901, 345/419-426, 345/581, 345/589, 345/606, 128/920
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/027 characterised by the use of a particular data acquisition trajectory, e.g. helical or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A method and system are provided for effecting interactive, three-dimensional renderings of selected body organs for purposes of medical observation and diagnosis. A series of CT images of the selected body organs are acquired. The series of CT images is stacked to form a three-dimensional volume file. To facilitate interactive three-dimensional rendering, the three-dimensional volume file may be subjected to an optional dataset reduction procedure to reduce pixel resolution and/or to divide the three-dimensional volume file into selected subvolumes. From a selected volume or subvolume, the image of a selected body organ is segmented or isolated. A wireframe model of the segmented organ image is then generated to enable interactive, three-dimensional rendering of the selected organ.

Claims

1. A method for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising the steps of:

a. forming a three-dimensional volume of data wherein the three-dimensional volume of data comprises a three-dimensional matrix of voxels;

b. isolating a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of a physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the isolation step comprises the steps of;

i. undersegmenting the selected region of interest from the volume of data; and

ii. adding a layer of voxels to the undersegmented region of interest to form an isolated region of interest; and

c. rendering the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of rendering the isolated region of interest comprises a volume rendering step for rendering selected volumes adjacent the isolated region of interest.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the region of interest is a blood vessel.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the region of interest is a lymph node.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the region of interest comprises a tissue-tissue interface at a body organ.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the body organ is a blood vessel.

7. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the body organ is a lymph node.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein isolating the selected region of interest comprises thresholding for determining threshold values corresponding to the selected values of the physical property to isolate the selected region of interest.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein isolating the selected region includes creating an isosurface model of the selected region of interest.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein rendering of the isolated region includes creating a wireframe model.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the physical property includes proton density.

12. A system for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising:

a. volume formation means for forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;

b. isolation means for isolating a region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the isolation means comprises a thresholding means for determining a threshold range used to isolate the region of interest and means for adjusting the isolated region of interest; and

c. rendering means for rendering the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein the rendering means comprises means for rendering selected volumes adjacent the isolated region of interest.

14. A system according to claim 12 wherein the rendering means renders the isolated region as a surface rendering.

15. A system according to claim 12 including a modeling means for forming an isosurface wireframe model of the isolated selected region of interest.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein the modeling means includes means for rendering a three-dimensional display of the wireframe model.

17. A method for interactively displaying a colon comprising the steps of:

a. forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with the colon, wherein the three-dimensional volume of data comprises a three-dimensional matrix of voxels;

b. isolating a selected region of interest related to the colon from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the isolation step comprises the steps of;

i. undersegmenting the selected region of interest from the volume of data; and

ii. adding a layer of voxels to the undersegmented region of interest to form an isolated region of interest; and

c. rendering the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the step of rendering the isolated region of interest comprises a volume rendering step for rendering selected volumes adjacent the isolated region of interest.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein isolating the selected region of interest comprises thresholding for determining threshold values corresponding to the selected values of the physical property to isolate the selected region of interest.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein isolating the selected region comprises creating an isosurface model of the selected region of interest.

21. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein rendering of the isolated region includes creating a wireframe model.

22. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the physical property includes proton density.

23. A method for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising the steps of:

a. forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;

b. isolating a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest; and

c. rendering the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display.

24. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the step of rendering the isolated region of interest comprises projecting into a viewing plane selected voxels adjacent the isolated region of interest.

25. A method as recited in claim 24 wherein the projected selected voxels are a weighted average of voxels along a ray corresponding to a line of sight through the viewing plane.

26. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the region of interest is a blood vessel.

27. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the region of interest is a lymph node.

28. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the region of interest comprises a tissue-tissue interface at a body organ.

29. A method as recited in claim 28 wherein the body organ is a blood vessel.

30. A method as recited in claim 28 wherein the body organ is a lymph node.

31. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the step of isolating the selected region of interest comprises thresholding for determining threshold values corresponding to the selected values of the physical property to isolate the selected region of interest.

32. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein isolating the selected region comprises creating an isosurface model of the selected region of interest.

33. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein rendering of the isolated region includes creating a wireframe model.

34. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the physical property includes proton density.

35. A system for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising:

a. volume formation means for forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;

b. isolation means for isolating a region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest; and

c. rendering means for rendering the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display.

36. A system according to claim 35 wherein the rendering means comprises a projection means for projecting into a viewing plane selected voxels adjacent the isolated region of interest.

37. A system according to claim 36 wherein the projected selected voxels are a weighted average of the voxels along a ray corresponding to a line of sight through the viewing plane.

38. A system according to claim 35 wherein the isolation means comprises a thresholding means for thresholding values corresponding to the selected values of the physical property to isolate the selected region of interest.

39. A system according to claim 35 including a modeling means for forming an isosurface wireframe model of the isolated selected region of interest.

40. A system according to claim 39 wherein the modeling means includes means for rendering a three-dimensional display of the wireframe model.

41. A method for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising the steps of:

a. forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;

b. isolating a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest; and

c. rendering the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display, wherein the rendering step comprises an contrast adjusting step for adjusting contrast values.

42. A system for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising:

a. volume formation means for forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;

b. isolation means for isolating a region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest; and

c. rendering means for rendering the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display, wherein the rendering means comprises an contrast adjusting means for adjusting contrast values.

43. A method for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising the steps of:

a. forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;

b. isolating a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the step of isolating the selected region of interest comprises a thresholding step for determining threshold values corresponding to the selected values of the physical property to isolate the selected region of interest, wherein the thresholding step comprises;

a. a threshold selection step for selecting a threshold range corresponding to the selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest; and

b. a threshold adjustment step for adjusting the threshold values to provide the threshold range for isolating the selected region of interest;

c. creating an isosurface from the exterior surface of the isolated region of interest; and

d. rendering the isosurface in an interactive three-dimensional display.

44. A method as recited in claim 43 comprising the step of creating a wireframe model from the isosurface.

45. A method as recited in claim 44 wherein the step of rendering the isosurface comprises shading polygons of the wireframe model.

46. A method as recited in claim 43 wherein the region of interest is a blood vessel.

47. A method as recited in claim 43 wherein the region of interest is a lymph node.

48. A method as recited in claim 43 wherein the region of interest comprises a tissue-tissue interface at a body organ.

49. A method as recited in claim 48 wherein the body organ is a blood vessel.

50. A method as recited in claim 48 wherein the body organ is a lymph node.

51. A method as recited in claim 43 comprising rendering the isosurface as a surface rendering.

52. A method as recited in claim 43 wherein rendering of the isosurface includes creating a wireframe model.

53. A system for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising:

a. volume formation means for forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;

b. isolation means for isolating a region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the isolation means comprises a thresholding means for determining a threshold range used to isolate the region of interest and wherein the isolation means comprises;

1. a threshold selection means for selecting the threshold values; and

2. a threshold adjustment means for adjusting the threshold values;

c. isosurface generation means for creating an isosurface from an exterior surface of the isolated region of interest; and

d. a surface renderer for rendering the isosurface as a surface rendering in an interactive three-dimensional display.

54. A system according to claim 53 wherein the rendering means renders the isolated region as a surface rendering.

55. A method for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising the steps of:

a. forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;

b. isolating a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest; and

c. rendering the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display, wherein the rendering step includes the steps of determining a longitudinal path through the region of interest and displaying an image of the three-dimensional body taken along a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal path.

56. A method according to claim 55 wherein the step of displaying comprises simulating movement along the path.

57. A method according to claim 56 comprising simultaneously displaying the perpendicular view.

58. A method according to claim 55 wherein the longitudinal path is a central path through the region of interest.

59. A method according to claim 58 wherein the step of displaying comprises simulating movement along the path.

60. A method according to claim 59 comprising simultaneously displaying the perpendicular view.

61. A method for interactively displaying a colon comprising the steps of:

a. forming a three-dimensional volume of data from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the colon;

b. segmenting a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest; and

c. rendering the segmented region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display, wherein the rendering step includes the steps of determining a longitudinal path through the lumen of the colon and displaying an image of the colon taken along a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal path.

62. A method according to claim 61 wherein the step of displaying comprises simulating movement along the path through the lumen.

63. A method according to claim 62 comprising simultaneously displaying the perpendicular view.

64. A method according to claim 61 wherein the longitudinal path is a central path through the lumen of the colon.

65. A method according to claim 64 wherein the step of displaying comprises simulating movement along the path through the lumen.

66. A method according to claim 65 comprising simultaneously displaying the perpendicular view.

67. A method for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising the steps of:

a. forming a three-dimensional volume of data wherein the three-dimensional volume of data comprises a three-dimensional matrix of voxels;

b. isolating a selected region of interest related to a tissue-tissue interface at a body organ from the volume of data based on selected values of a physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the isolation step comprises the steps of;

i. undersegmenting the selected region of interest from the volume of data; and

ii. adding a layer of voxels to the undersegmented region of interest to form an isolated region of interest; and

c. rendering the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display.

68. A method as recited in claim 67 wherein the step of rendering the isolated region of interest comprises a volume rendering step for rendering selected volumes adjacent the isolated region of interest.

69. A method as recited in claim 67 wherein the body organ is a blood vessel.

70. A method as recited in claim 67 wherein the body organ is a lymph node.

71. A method as recited in claim 67 wherein isolating the selected region of interest comprises thresholding for determining threshold values corresponding to the selected values of the physical property to isolate the selected region of interest.

72. A method as recited in claim 67 wherein isolating the selected region comprises creating an isosurface model of the selected region of interest.

73. A method as recited in claim 67 wherein rendering of the isolated region includes creating a wireframe model.

74. A method as recited in claim 67 wherein the physical property includes proton density.

75. A system for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures comprising:

a. volume formation means for forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three-dimensional body;

b. isolation means for isolating a region of interest related to a tissue-tissue interface at a body organ from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest, wherein the isolation means comprises a thresholding means for determining a threshold range used to isolate the region of interest and means for adjusting the isolated region of interest; and

c. rendering means for rendering the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display.

76. A system according to claim 75 wherein the rendering means comprises means for rendering selected volumes adjacent the isolated region of interest.

77. A system according to claim 75 wherein the rendering means renders the isolated region as a surface rendering.

78. A system according to claim 75 including a modeling means for forming an isosurface wireframe model of the isolated selected region of interest.

79. A method for interactively displaying three dimensional structures comprising the steps of:

a. forming a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three dimensional body;

b. segmenting a selected region of interest related to a tissue-tissue interface at a body organ from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest; and

c. rendering the segmented region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display for interaction with internal surfaces of the segmented region of interest.

80. A method according to claim 79 wherein the body organ is a blood vessel.

81. A method according to claim 79 wherein the body organ is a lymph node.