Centerline Correction in Medical Volume Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging techniques, such as curved Multi Planar Reformatting (MPR), face challenges in accurately displaying non-planar anatomical features like blood vessels and the colon due to errors in automatic centerline finding algorithms, leading to misinterpretation and the need for time-consuming manual corrections by experts.
Innovation Solution
A visualization application that allows users to select and correct deviations in the centerline by initiating an editing session, presenting a thin MPR view, defining a trend line, amending the curve, rotating the view to review corrections, and iterating on these steps to ensure accurate representation of anatomical features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic centerline finding algorithms are used, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to errors in following the anatomical path
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated centerline generation to establish an initial path, then allows for subsequent manual correction of deviations. This preliminary action captures the efficiency benefit while setting up the data for later precision improvement through user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying the automated centerline overlaid on anatomical images, allowing users to identify deviations from the true anatomical path. This feedback mechanism enables users to make informed corrections to improve precision while maintaining overall productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual correction of centerline errors is performed, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to extensive manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The correction process is segmented by allowing users to focus on correcting only the portions of the centerline with deviations, rather than manually correcting the entire centerline. This segmentation reduces the time investment required while maintaining precision where it matters most.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for partial correction of the centerline, where users can correct only the segments with significant deviations from the anatomical path. This partial action approach achieves sufficient precision for clinical purposes without requiring complete manual correction of the entire centerline.
3Ease of operation
If curved MPR is used to display non-planar features, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to centerline errors causing misinterpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying the centerline path overlaid on anatomical images in the curved MPR view, allowing users to verify that the centerline accurately follows the anatomical structure. This feedback ensures measurement precision is maintained while preserving the ease of viewing non-planar features.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of the centerline path against anatomical landmarks before finalizing the curved MPR display. This preliminary action ensures that the centerline accurately represents the anatomy, maintaining measurement precision while keeping the operation simple for users.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain embodiments provide a computer apparatus comprising a display and a processor running a visualization application for visualizing a three-dimensional patient image data set including an anatomical feature of interest. The visualization application is operable to: a) display on the display at least one view of the image data set together with a curve which is intended to follow a path relevant for the anatomical feature of interest, but which may include one or more deviations from the path; and b) initiate an editing session for the curve by selecting a portion of the curve associated with a deviation from the path for correction, the editing session comprising: (i) presenting an MPR view including the selected portion of the curve; (ii) defining a trend line which approximately follows the anatomical path in the vicinity of the selected portion of the curve; (iii) amending under user control any desired part of the selected portion of the curve in the MPR view to make corrections to the curve; (iv) rotating under user control the MPR view about a rotational axis which is parallel to the trend line in order to permit a user to review the corrections in three dimensions in the image data set; (v) iterating under user control the amending and rotating steps as desired to make and review further corrections; and (vi) terminating the editing session under user control by accepting or rejecting the corrections; and c) display at least one view of the image data set together with the curve incorporating amendments from the editing session.