3D modeling system
First Claim
1. A computer-based 3D modeling system for constructing a virtual 3D representation from a plurality of data images of 2D cross sections having a mutual spatial relationship comprisinga data source module through which can be extracted the plurality of data images of 2D cross sections having orientation and positioning information for each of the plurality of data images according to the mutual spatial relationship;
- a frame creation module capable of creating a planar frame for each of the plurality of data images from the data source module;
a texture-mapping module capable of mapping each of the plurality of data images from the data source module onto its corresponding planar frame from the frame creation module as a texture;
a rotation transform module capable of using the orientation information for rotating each planar frame from the texture-mapping module about one or more axes in virtual 3D space according to the orientation information;
a translation transform module capable of using the positioning information for translating each planar frame from the texture-mapping module in virtual 3D space according to the positioning information.
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Abstract
A computer-based 3D modeling system for constructing a virtual 3D representation from a plurality of data images of 2D cross sections having a mutual spatial relationship. The plurality of data images and the associated orientation and positioning information are extractable from a data source module. A frame creation module constructs a rectangular frame for each image slice. A texture-mapping module maps the image slice onto the associated frame as a texture. A rotation transform module rotates each frame appropriately about one or more axes based upon the orientation information associated with each data image to achieve the correct orientation in 3D space. A translation transform module translates each frame based upon the positioning information associated with each data image to achieve the correct position in 3D space.
103 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A computer-based 3D modeling system for constructing a virtual 3D representation from a plurality of data images of 2D cross sections having a mutual spatial relationship comprising
a data source module through which can be extracted the plurality of data images of 2D cross sections having orientation and positioning information for each of the plurality of data images according to the mutual spatial relationship; -
a frame creation module capable of creating a planar frame for each of the plurality of data images from the data source module;
a texture-mapping module capable of mapping each of the plurality of data images from the data source module onto its corresponding planar frame from the frame creation module as a texture;
a rotation transform module capable of using the orientation information for rotating each planar frame from the texture-mapping module about one or more axes in virtual 3D space according to the orientation information;
a translation transform module capable of using the positioning information for translating each planar frame from the texture-mapping module in virtual 3D space according to the positioning information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
a data source including an ultrasound scanning device in data communication with the data source module. -
12. The computer-based 3D modeling system of claim 11, the data source further including a position determining device and a rotation angle sensor coupled with the ultrasound scanning device.
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13. The computer-based 3D modeling system of claim 1, the data source interface converting the plurality of data images of 2D cross sections to a standardized bitmap format.
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14. A method for generating a computer-based virtual 3D representation comprising
obtaining a plurality of data images of 2D cross sections along with orientation and positioning information for each data image; -
creating a planar frame for each data image;
mapping each data image onto its corresponding planar frame as a texture;
rotating each planar frame about one or more axes in virtual 3D space using the orientation information;
translating each planar frame in virtual 3D space using the positioning infomation displaying the plurality of planar frames on a viewer as a virtual 3D representation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
displaying the plurality of rotated and translated frames as a virtual 3D representation on a screen, and reviewing it using one or more of rotating the virtual 3D representation, advancing into the virtual 3D representation using a clipping plane, adjusting the transparency of the virtual 3D representation, adjusting the translucency of the virtual 3D representation, adjusting the color of pixels used to represent the virtual 3D representation on the screen, adjusting the contrast of pixels used to represent the virtual 3D representation on the screen, adjusting the brightness of the virtual 3D representation, adjusting the gamma of the virtual 3D representation, resizing the virtual 3D representation, dynamically translating the viewpoint into the virtual 3D representation, and dynamically moving the viewpoint relative to the virtual 3D representation. -
16. A method of reviewing a computer-based 3D representation generated according to the method of claim 14, comprising
displaying the plurality of rotated and translated frames as a virtual 3D representation on a screen and adjusting translucency of the images mapped to the frames by manipulating the alpha value of individual pixels, including obtaining a specific color value for that pixel, selecting a threshold value, calculating a computed value by subtracting a maximum color value from the specific color value, comparing the computed value to the threshold value, setting the alpha value equal to the maximum color value if the computed value is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and calculating the alpha value by dividing the computed value by a selected value if the computed value is less than the threshold value. -
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising
adjusting contrast by manipulating the color values of individual pixels, including mathematically modifying at least one color component for pixels with a calculated alpha value less than the maximum color value. -
18. A method of reviewing a computer-based 3D representation generated according to the method of claim 14, comprising
displaying the plurality of rotated and translated frames as a virtual 3D representation on a screen, and adjusting translucency of the images mapped to the frames by manipulating the alpha value of individual pixels, including obtaining a specific color value for that pixel, selecting a threshold value, calculating a computed value by subtracting a maximum color value from the specific color value, comparing the computed value to the threshold value, setting the alpha value to the max color value if the computed value is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and calculating the alpha value if less than the threshold value by dividing the computed value by a selected value. -
19. The method of claim 18, setting the alpha value to the max color value being if the computed value is greater than the threshold value.
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20. A method of reviewing a computer-based 3D representation generated according to the method of claim 14, comprising
displaying the plurality of rotated and translated frames as a virtual 3D representation on a screen, and adjusting translucency of the images mapped to the frames by manipulating the alpha value of individual pixels, including obtaining a specific color value for that pixel, selecting a threshold value, calculating a computed value by subtracting a maximum color value from the specific color value, comparing the computed value to the threshold value, setting the alpha value to the max color value if the computed value is less than or equal to the threshold value, and calculating the alpha value if greater than the threshold value by dividing the computed value by a selected value.
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21. A computer-based system for constructing a simulation of a 3D volume comprising
a data source module through which can be extracted a plurality of 2D cross-sectional images and orientation and position information associated with each image; -
a frame creation module capable of creating a plurality of planar frames, each image being associated with a corresponding planar frame from among the plurality of planar frames;
a texture-mapping module capable of texture-mapping each image onto the corresponding planar frame;
a rotation transform module capable of rotating each planar frame about one or more axes according to the orientation information associated with the image that is texture-mapped onto each respective planar frame; and
a translation transform module capable of translating each planar frame, relative to the one or more axes, according to the position information associated with the image that is texture-mapped onto each respective planar frame. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of visually simulating a 3D volume comprising:
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obtaining a plurality of 2D cross-sectional images and orientation and position information associated with each image;
creating a plurality of planar frames, each image being associated with a corresponding planar frame from among the plurality of planar frames;
texture-mapping each image onto the corresponding planar frame;
rotating each planar frame about one or more axes according to the orientation information associated with the image that is texture-mapped onto each respective planar frame;
translating each planar frame, relative to the one or more axes, according to the position information associated with the image that is texture-mapped onto each respective planar frame; and
displaying the plurality of texture-mapped planar frames on a viewer as a simulated 3D volume. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification