Device and method for generating a three dimensional vascular model

• US 7,646,900 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2004
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Movassaghi, Babak, Rasche, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rush; Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/567,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/128, 382/130, 382/131, 382/132, 382/154
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30101 Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/55 from multiple images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/10 Image acquisition document image scanning and transmission H04N1/00; control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/03 Recognition of patterns in medical or anatomical images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 Vascular patterns

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the reconstruction of a three-dimensional model of a vascular tree from two-dimensional X-ray projection images (A, B, C) that are taken from different spatial directions. On a first projection image (A) at least one reference point (C_A) is specified. The gray-value profiles along the epipolar lines (E_B, E_C) for said reference point (C_A) in other projection images (B, C) are then projected on the projection line (L) of the reference point (C_A) and added there punctiformly to form a sum profile (S). The sum profile (S) has an extreme, for example, a gray-value minimum, at the position of the space point (C_3D) belonging to the reference point (C_A). In this way, it is possible to reconstruct semiautomatically a vascular tree from X-ray projections.

Claims

1. A device for generating a three-dimensional model of a spatial structure comprising:

an imaging unit for generating two-dimensional projection images of the spatial structure from various directions;

a display unit that is coupled to the imaging unit for displaying one of the projection images as a reference image, in which connection the display unit comprises input means in order to make possible the interactive specification of at least one image point in a segment of the spatial structure as a reference point;

a data processing device that is coupled to the imaging unit and the display unit and is designed to reconstruct a space point corresponding to the reference point of the structure from further projection images produced from other directions using the image-processing unit, wherein the space point is reconstructed by evaluating other image points of the further projection images that lie on a respective epipolar line of the reference point, wherein gray scale values corresponding to the other image points are projected on a projection line of the reference point and added to form a sum profile having constructive superimposition of the gray values of multiple epipolar lines and averaging out the contributions of other vascular segments, thereby determining a space point of a vascular segment and wherein said space point is defined as that position on the projection line of the reference point at which the sum profile assumes an extreme.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is a rotation X-ray unit.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data-processing device is designed to reconstruct said space point utilizing further projection images that are obtained during different cardiac phases.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gray scale values are added punctiformly to form the sum profile.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sum profile is only evaluated in a segment in which the gray scale values of all the further projection images have contributed to the sum profile.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spatial structure has a linear route and the data-processing device is designed to reconstruct said linear route from a specification of a plurality of reference points situated on the reference image.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data-processing device is designed to determine a width of the spatial structure from a projection of a reconstructed three-dimensional model on projection images of the spatial structure.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cyclic movement detector for determining spontaneous movement associated with the spatial structure, wherein the data-processing device is designed to use only those further projection images for the reconstruction of the space point that originate from the same phase of the spontaneous movement as the reference image.

9. A method for displaying a three-dimensional model of a vascular spatial structure with an imaging unit comprising the following steps:

a) operating an imaging unit to generate two-dimensional projection images of the structure taken from different directions, the images comprising a single reference image and further projection images;

b) displaying the reference image;

c) using a pointer appliance to mark at least one image point on the single reference image in a segment of the spatial structure as a reference point;

d) operating a computer of the imaging unit to automatically find a space point corresponding to the reference point by performing the steps;

projecting gray scale values corresponding to image points on epipolar lines in the further projection images which correspond to the reference point on a projection line of the reference point;

summing the gray scale values to form a sum profile having constructive superimposition of the gray values of multiple epipolar lines and averaging out the contributions of other vascular segments, thereby determining a space point of a vascular segment defined as that position on the projection line of the reference point at which the sum profile assumes an extreme; and

e) repeating step d) for each image point marked on the reference image of the spatial structure in step c), thereby generating a three-dimensional model of a spatial structure;

f) displaying the three-dimensional model.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the imaging unit is a rotation X-ray unit.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the further projection images are obtained during different cardiac phases.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the sum profile is only evaluated in a segment in which the gray scale values of all the further projection images have contributed to the sum profile.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the spatial structure has a linear route and a plurality of reference points on the reference image are marked.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a width of the spatial structure from a projection of the three-dimensional model on projection images of the spatial structure.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining spontaneous movement associated with the spatial structure using an electrocardiograph apparatus, and wherein only those further projection images are utilized from the same phase of the spontaneous movement as the reference image.