Clipping Volume for 3D Medical Imaging Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical diagnostic imaging, particularly in 3D echocardiography, existing clipping techniques often result in insufficient isolation of the region of interest, leading to occlusion by undesired information and lack of repeatability in achieving desired views due to distracting jumps when changing viewing directions.
Innovation Solution
A clipping volume is defined by adjusting the dimensions of its 2D projection on multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) planes, allowing for multiple volume renderings from different directions to be displayed simultaneously, isolating the region of interest and providing desired diagnostic information without sequential navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If two clipping planes are used to isolate the region of interest, then some occlusion is reduced, but insufficient clipping results in undesired information still occluding the region of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from using two clipping planes (2D approach) to using a clipping volume (3D approach). This dimensional change allows complete isolation of the region of interest by enclosing it in three-dimensional space, eliminating the insufficient clipping problem where undesired information could still occlude the region.
Solution Approach 2:
The clipping volume is nested within the 3D ultrasound data volume, with the volume rendering confined within the clipping volume boundaries. This nesting structure ensures that only the desired region is rendered while completely excluding undesired information from the visualization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user changes viewing direction to view the selected portion from different directions, then multiple views are obtained, but a distracting or disorienting jump occurs between views
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple volume renderings from different viewing directions are pre-computed and stored within the clipping volume before the user needs to view them. When the user requests a different view, the system retrieves the pre-computed rendering rather than performing a jump transition, providing smooth view changes without disorienting jumps.
3Adaptability or versatility
If incremental changes are made to clip plane or viewing direction, then some adjustment flexibility is achieved, but repeatability is lost preventing consistent achievement of desired views
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates and stores multiple copies of volume renderings from different viewing directions within the clipping volume. When a user requests a specific view, the system retrieves the pre-computed copy rather than performing incremental adjustments, ensuring consistent and repeatable results.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a clipping volume is used to isolate the region of interest, then complete isolation is achieved, but the complexity of defining and managing the clipping volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages the third dimension by using a volumetric clipping structure instead of planar clipping. This allows complete isolation of the region of interest in 3D space, providing superior occlusion removal while the complexity is managed through automated volume rendering algorithms that process the clipped data efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
Clipping is provided for volume rendering in three-dimensional medical imaging. Rather than a single or even two clipping planes, an enclosed clipping volume isolates a region of interest. More than one volume rendering may be formed from the data of the clipping volume. The volume renderings from different directions, such as opposite directions, may be displayed substantially simultaneously. For imaging a valve or other structure with multiple views of interest, the clipping volume defines the valve or structure region and rendering from the multiple views provides desired diagnosis information.