Virtual endoscopy
First Claim
1. A virtual endoscopy method for performing virtual endoscopy on a volumetric image of a lumen, the method comprising:
- selecting, via a processor, a plurality of different ray casting directions that are concurrently extending from a plurality of different viewpoint axis segments toward a lumen-defining surface of the lumen, wherein at least one of the selected ray casting directions extends orthogonally from a viewpoint axis segment to the lumen-defining surface and at least a different one of the selected ray casting directions extends non-orthogonally from a different one of the viewpoint axis segments to the lumen-defining surface;
computing, via the processor, a statistical characteristic of voxels over a preselected distance along each ray casting direction into the lumen-defining structure;
defining, via the processor, a pixel value for each ray casting direction based at least on the computed statistical characteristic; and
arranging, via the processor, the pixel values into an endoscopic view of the lumen-defining structure,wherein a pixel value defined by the ray casting direction extending non-orthogonally from the viewpoint axis segment to the lumen-defining surface captures information about the lumen that is not captured by a pixel value defined by a ray casting direction extending orthogonally from the same viewpoint axis segment to the lumen-defining surface, wherein the information includes a feature in a fold in the lumen.
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Abstract
In a virtual endoscopy method, an unfolding axis substantially along an elongated lumen is divided into axis segments. Ray casting directions are selected extending generally radially from the axis segments. At least some of the ray casting directions are tilted away from a camera position. Ray casting is performed along the tilted ray casting directions to define pixel values that are arranged into an unfolded view. The ray casting employs at least one of (i) volume rendering and (ii) computing a statistical characteristic of voxels over a preselected distance (dinterval) along the ray casting direction into the lumen-defining structure.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A virtual endoscopy method for performing virtual endoscopy on a volumetric image of a lumen, the method comprising:
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selecting, via a processor, a plurality of different ray casting directions that are concurrently extending from a plurality of different viewpoint axis segments toward a lumen-defining surface of the lumen, wherein at least one of the selected ray casting directions extends orthogonally from a viewpoint axis segment to the lumen-defining surface and at least a different one of the selected ray casting directions extends non-orthogonally from a different one of the viewpoint axis segments to the lumen-defining surface; computing, via the processor, a statistical characteristic of voxels over a preselected distance along each ray casting direction into the lumen-defining structure; defining, via the processor, a pixel value for each ray casting direction based at least on the computed statistical characteristic; and arranging, via the processor, the pixel values into an endoscopic view of the lumen-defining structure, wherein a pixel value defined by the ray casting direction extending non-orthogonally from the viewpoint axis segment to the lumen-defining surface captures information about the lumen that is not captured by a pixel value defined by a ray casting direction extending orthogonally from the same viewpoint axis segment to the lumen-defining surface, wherein the information includes a feature in a fold in the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
reconstructing, via a processor, projection data and generating, via the processor, an image of a flattened perspective view of an internal wall of a lumen having a longitudinal axis, wherein pixel values for the image are determined from voxel values of reconstructed volumetric image data representing the lumen that are located along both orthogonal and non-orthogonal paths from predetermined axis segments on the longitudinal axis to the internal wall, wherein a pixel value defined by a tilted ray from a same particular axis segment captures information about the lumen that is not captured by a pixel value defined by a non-tilted ray from the same particular axis segment, wherein the tilted ray extends non-orthogonally from the same particular axis segment to the lumen and the non-tilted ray extends orthogonally from the same particular axis segment to the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
reconstructing, via a processor, projection data and generating, via a processor, an image of a flattened perspective view of an internal wall of a lumen so as to show information located in folded regions of the internal wall, wherein a pixel value defined by a tilted ray from a same particular axis segment captures information about the lumen that is not captured by a pixel value defined by a non-tilted ray from the same particular axis segment, wherein the information includes a feature in a fold in the lumen wherein the tilted ray extends non-orthogonally from the same particular axis segment to the lumen and the non-tilted ray extends orthogonally from the same particular axis segment to the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification