Anatomical visualization system

• US 6,801,643 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medical Media Systems
• Original Assignee: Medical Media Systems
• Inventors: Pieper, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jayanti K.
• Application Number:
  US10/095,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20020191822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/128-134, 382/154, 382/285-288, 128/897-898, 345/419, 345/582, 356/612, 356/622, 356/623, 378/4, 378/62, 600/117, 600/407, 600/425, 600/459, 703/5, 703/6, 703/11
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30101 Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/028 Multiple view windows (top-side-front-sagittal-orthogonal)
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2012 Colour editing, changing, or manipulating; Use of colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/66 of image moments or centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

The present invention provides an anatomical visualization system comprising a first database that comprises a plurality of 2-D slice images generated by scanning a structure. The 2-D slice images are stored in a first data format. A second database is also provided that comprises a 3-D computer model of the scanned structure. The 3-D computer model comprises a first software object that is defined by a 3-D geometry database. Apparatus are provided for inserting a second software object into the 3-D computer model so as to augment the 3-D computer model. The second software object is also defined by a 3-D geometry database, and includes a planar surface. Apparatus for determining the specific 2-D slice image associated with the position of the planar surface of the second software object within the augmented 3-D computer model are provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention. Also provided are apparatus for texture mapping the specific 2-D slice image onto the planar surface of the second software object. Display apparatus are provided for displaying an image of the augmented 3-D computer model so as to simultaneously provide a view of the first software object and the specific 2-D slice image texture mapped onto the planar surface of the second software object. In another form of the present invention, apparatus and method are provided for determining patient-specific anatomical dimensions using appropriate scanned 2-D slice image information. The apparatus and method are particularly well suited for determining patient-specific anatomical dimensions with respect to branching anatomical structures, e.g., vascular structures.

Claims

1. A system for determining patient-specific anatomical dimensions using appropriate scanned 2-D image data, said system comprising:

means for assembling an appropriate set of scanned 2-D images into a 3-D database;

means for extracting a computer model of a patient-specific anatomical structure from the information contained in said 3-D database;

means for defining a plurality of 2-D image planes parallel to and spaced from one another and transversely intersecting a set of 3-D locations corresponding to said computer model of said patient-specific anatomical structure, each of said 2-D image planes including a set of co-ordinates located within said patient-specific anatomical structure;

means for calculating a centroid path in said computer model of the patient-specific anatomical structure, said centroid path being determined by averaging said set of co-ordinates located with each of said 2-D image planes between said first and said second ones of said plurality of image planes so as to define a centroid for the portion of said computer model of the patient-specific anatomical structure contained in that particular 2-D image plane, and applying a curve-fitting algorithm to said centroids so as to supply data for any portions of said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said patient-specific anatomical structure which may lie between said 2-D image planes, whereby to create resulting space curves; and

means for calculating desired patient-specific anatomical dimensions from said resulting space curves.

2. A system for determining patient-specific anatomical dimensions for structures which have a branching configuration by using appropriate scanned 2-D image data, said system comprising:

an appropriate set of scanned 2-D images assembled into a 3-D database, said 3-D database comprising a volumetric data set;

means for segmenting said volumetric data set into a set of 3-D locations corresponding to a specific anatomical structure to be measured;

means for defining a plurality of 2-D image planes transversely intersecting said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said specific anatomical structure, each of said 2-D image planes including a set of coordinates located within said anatomical structure to be measured;

means for specifying, for each branching structure contained within said specific anatomical structure, a branch line in said volumetric data set that uniquely indicates said branch structure, with said branch line being specified by selecting appropriate start and end locations on two of said set of 2-D image planes;

means for calculating, for each branching structure contained within said specific anatomical structure, a centroid path in said volumetric data set for that branching structure, with said centroid path being determined by averaging said set of co-ordinates located within each of the 2-D image planes between said start and end locations of said set of 2-D image planes so as to define a centroid for the branch structure contained in that particular 2-D image plane;

means for applying a curve-fitting algorithm to said centroids so as to supply data for any portions of said anatomical structure which may lie between said 2-D image planes, and for smoothing out any noise that may occur in said system, whereby to create resulting space curves; and

means for calculating said desired anatomical dimensions from said resulting space curves.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said segmenting means comprise means for conducting a connected component search.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein said means for applying a curve-fitting algorithm comprise means for applying a spline-fitting routine.

5. A method for calculating patient-specific anatomical dimensions using appropriate scanned 2-D image data, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) assembling an appropriate set of scanned 2-D image into a 3-D database;

(B) extracting a computer model of a patient-specific anatomical structure from the information contained in said 3-D database;

(C) defining a plurality of 2-D image planes parallel to and spaced from one another and transversely intersecting a set of 3-D locations corresponding to said computer model of said patient-specific anatomical structure, each of said 2-D image planes including a set of co-ordinates located within said patient-specific anatomical structure;

(D) calculating a centroid path in said computer model of the patient-specific anatomical structure, said centroid path being determined by averaging said set of co-ordinates located within each of said 2-D image planes between said first and said second ones of said plurality of image planes so as to define a centroid for the portion of said computer model of the patient-specific anatomical structure contained in that particular 2-D image plane, and applying a curve-fitting algorithm to said centroids so as to supply data for any portions of said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said patient-specific anatomical structure which may lie between said 2-D image planes, whereby to create resulting space curves; and

(E) calculating desired patient-specific anatomical dimensions from said resulting space curves.

6. A method for calculating patient-specific anatomical dimensions for structures which have a branching configuration by using appropriate scanned 2-D image data, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) assembling an appropriate set of scanned 2-D images into a 3-D database, said 3-D database comprising a volumetric data set;

(B) segmenting said volumetric data set into a set of 3-D locations corresponding to a specific anatomical structure to be measured;

(C) defining a plurality of 2-D image planes transversely intersecting said set of 3-D locations corresponding to said specific anatomical structure, each of said 2-D image planes including a set of coordinates located within said anatomical structure to be measured;

(D) specifying, for each branching structure contained within said specific anatomical structure, a branch line in said volumetric data set that uniquely indicates said branch structure, with said branch line being specified by selecting appropriate start and end locations on two of said set of 2-D image planes;

(E) calculating, for each branching structure contained within said specific anatomical structure, a centroid path in said volumetric data set for said branching structure, with said centeroid path being determined by averaging said set of co-ordinates located within each of the 2-D image planes between said start and end locations of said set of 2-D image planes so as to define a centeroid for the branch structure contained in that particular 2-D image plane;

(F) applying a curve-fitting algorithm to said centeroids so as to supply data for any portions of said anatomical structure which may lie between said 2-D image planes, and for smoothing out any noise that may occur in said system, whereby to create resulting space curves; and

(G) calculating said desired anatomical dimensions from said resulting space curves.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said segmenting is achieved by utilizing a connected component search.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein said curve-fitting algorithm is a spline-fitting routine.