Curved Cut Plane Recalculation for 3D Volume Browsing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanisms for locating items or sections of interest within 3D volume data are cumbersome and time-intensive, involving trial and error with noticeable time lags between user input and image updates, and often result in incongruent 2D projections.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that dynamically modifies and displays a curved cut plane within a 3D volume, allowing real-time recalculations and re-projections of cross-sections based on user input, maintaining image continuity and reducing time lag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a cut plane is generated and displayed based on an initial path guess, then a cross-sectional image is obtained, but if the path does not exactly cut through the anatomy of interest, the user must modify the path which results in complete image data reconstruction and noticeable time lag
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cut plane modification process into localized adjustments rather than complete reconstruction. When the user modifies the path, only the affected portion of the cut plane is recalculated and re-projected, not the entire image data set. This segmentation allows for rapid updates of modified regions while preserving the rest of the image, thereby reducing the time lag from path modification to image update while maintaining precision in locating anatomy of interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic updating of the cut plane display where the image reconstruction process is made adaptive to user interactions. The system dynamically adjusts the level of reconstruction based on the magnitude and location of path modifications, providing real-time or near-real-time feedback when adjustments are small and maintaining precision for locating anatomy of interest while minimizing time lag through optimized processing triggered by user actions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If 2D projections are displayed by traversing sub-projections, then different depths of the sub-area are shown, but the image displayed in the sub-projections is not continuous with the surrounding data in the main projection, causing incongruency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sub-projection display with the main projection by integrating the depth-traversing functionality into a unified continuous image display. Instead of showing separate discontinuous sub-projections, the system combines multiple depth layers into a single continuous panoramic view where transitions between different depths are seamless. This merging maintains image congruity and continuity while preserving the ability to display and browse different depths of the volume data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the continuity issue by transitioning from a multi-panel 2D sub-projection display to a continuous panoramic view that effectively adds a depth dimension to the main projection plane. The system renders depth information along the curved cut plane in a continuous manner, allowing users to traverse different depths while maintaining visual continuity with the surrounding data, thereby eliminating incongruency between sub-projections and main projection.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for modifying a curved cut plane of a 3D volume to locate objects or sections of interest within the 3D volume intersected by the cut plane. A cross-section of the 3D volume along an initially estimated curved cut plane is projected onto a flat viewing plane, and a panorama image of the cross-section is displayed to the user. If the initially estimated curved cut plane does not exactly intersect the object or section of interest, the user manipulates a user input device to modify the curve of the plane inward or outward in the 3D volume away from the projected plane. As the user manipulates the user input device, an affected portion of the curve is recalculated and a modified curved cut plane is reconstructed based on the recalculated curve for re-projecting a modified cross-section of the 3D volume in real time with the movement of the user input device. The user is therefore provided with instant visual feedback as the user moves the user input device to browse in and out within the 3D volume from the current projected plane.