Virtual organ unfolding for visualization

• US 7,542,595 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Moreau-Gobard, Romain
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, SATHYANARAYA V
• Application Number:
  US10/910,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20050058328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 382/154, 382/128, 345/419
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/06 Ray-tracing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/08 Volume rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/04 involving 3D image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10072 Tomographic images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30048 Heart; Cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30101 Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/12 Edge-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/149 involving deformable models, e.g. active contour models

Abstract

A system and method for organ image unfolding for feature visualization are provided, where the system includes a processor, an imaging adapter in signal communication with the processor for receiving organ scan data, a modeling unit in signal communication with the processor for fitting a model to the scan data, and an unfolding unit in signal communication with the processor for unfolding the 3D modeled scan data; and the corresponding method includes segmenting an outer surface of the organ, parameterizing a 3D model of the organ, ray-casting from the center of the organ to the surface of the 3D model, and unfolding the 3D model of the organ in correspondence with the ray-casting.

Claims

1. A method using a processor for of organ image unfolding for feature visualization, the method comprising:

the processor performing the steps of;

segmenting an outer surface of the organ;

parameterizing a 3D model of the organ;

ray-casting from the center of the organ to the surface of the 3D model; and

unfolding the 3D model of the organ in correspondence with the ray-casting, wherein the organ is a heart.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the features comprise coronary blood vessels.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving preliminary organ scan data.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the 3D model is fixed.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the 3D model is selected from the group of 3D shapes consisting of a sphere, a cylinder and an ellipsoid.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein ray-casting comprises application of a maximum intensity projection filter.

7. An apparatus for organ image unfolding for feature visualization, comprising:

segmenting means for segmenting an outer surface of the organ using organ scan data;

modeling means for fitting a 3D model to the organ scan data;

ray-casting means for casting rays from the center of the organ to the surface of the 3D model; and

unfolding means responsive to the ray-casting means for unfolding the 3D model, wherein the organ is a heart.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, further comprising scanning means for receiving the organ scan data.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, further comprising display means for displaying the organ scan data.

10. A system for organ image unfolding for feature visualization, comprising:

a processor for segmenting an outer surface of the organ using organ scan data;

an imaging adapter in signal communication with the processor for receiving the organ scan data;

a modeling unit in signal communication with the processor for fitting a model to the scan data; and

an unfolding unit in signal communication with the processor for unfolding the 3D modeled scan data, wherein the organ is a heart.

11. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein the processor renders the detailed scan data as a 3D image about a region of interest.

12. A system as defined in claim 11, further comprising a display adapter in signal communication with the processor for displaying the rendered 3D image.

13. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein the display adapter and user interface adapter are usable for checking the scan quality.

14. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein the processor changes the model.

15. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform program steps for organ image unfolding for feature visualization the program steps comprising:

segmenting an outer surface of the organ;

parameterizing a 3D model of the organ;

ray-casting from the center of the organ to the surface of the 3D model; and

unfolding the 3D model of the organ in correspondence with the ray-casting, wherein the organ is a heart.

16. A program storage device as defined in claim 15 wherein the features comprise coronary blood vessels.

17. A program storage device as defined in claim 15 wherein the 3D model is selected from the group of 3D shapes consisting of a sphere, a cylinder and an ellipsoid.

18. A program storage device as defined in claim 15 wherein ray-casting comprises application of a maximum intensity projection filter.