3D Image Data Area Extraction for Bone and Cartilage Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for image diagnosis using X-ray CT data struggle to efficiently extract unnecessary areas, such as bone tissue, from 3D projection images, as they often require complex threshold settings and repeated processes to accurately separate blood vessels from other tissues like cartilage, leading to incomplete removal of bone data and interference from soft tissues.
Innovation Solution
An image data area extracting system and method that sets a threshold value for 3D image data, designates a starting point for connected area deletion, and uses connected area extraction units to renew the existing area by excluding the designated connected area, allowing for efficient extraction of unnecessary areas and construction of clear 3D projection images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If threshold value and opacity are set low to delete bone area image data, then bone deletion is achieved, but soft tissues (organs) are also displayed with bones making extraction difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image processing into multiple sequential steps: first deleting bone area data using initial threshold values, then deleting cartilage area data using subsequent threshold values. This segmentation allows each tissue type to be handled separately, preventing soft tissue interference from affecting bone deletion accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary deletion of bone area image data before observing contrasted blood vessels. By removing bone data first using predetermined threshold values, the system prepares the image data in advance, making subsequent blood vessel observation clearer and preventing bone interference.
2Manufacturing precision
If threshold value and opacity are set high to delete bone area image data, then bone deletion is achieved, but cartilage remains in images due to similar CT values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the deletion process into distinct phases: first phase deletes bone area using higher threshold values, second phase deletes cartilage area using lower threshold values. This ensures both bone and cartilage are reliably removed without interference from each other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes threshold values between deletion phases - using higher threshold values for bone deletion and lower threshold values for cartilage deletion. This parameter adjustment allows selective removal of different tissue types based on their CT value characteristics.
3Measurement precision
If complex threshold settings and repeated processes are used to separate blood vessels from other tissues, then separation accuracy improves, but processing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary deletion of bone and cartilage area data before blood vessel observation. By removing interfering tissues in advance using predetermined threshold values, the system simplifies subsequent blood vessel extraction without requiring complex repeated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary bone and cartilage area image data from the three-dimensional image data using connected area extraction methods. This extraction of harmful elements simplifies the remaining image data, making blood vessel observation clearer without complex processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An image data area extracting system includes: a threshold value setting unit configured to set a threshold value for three dimensional image data of an object; an area managing unit configured to extract a threshold value area from the three dimensional image data based at least in part on the threshold value; a three dimensional projection image display unit configured to display an image, the image being constructed from the three dimensional image data; a starting point designating unit configured to designate a starting point for a connected area to be deleted from the image; and an extract connected area deleting unit configured to remove the connected area from the image.