3D Luminal Structure Projection for Cross-Sectional Observability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for displaying three-dimensional luminal structures, such as blood vessels or bronchial tubes, face observability issues as the length and complexity of the structures increase, leading to hindered observation of regions of interest due to the superimposition of the entire three-dimensional structure on cross-sectional images with markers.
Innovation Solution
The method involves extracting a luminal or line-like three-dimensional structure from a three-dimensional image and generating a projection image by projecting a portion of the structure within a predetermined thickness or distance from the cross-sectional image, improving the display by focusing on a limited region of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the entirety of the extracted three-dimensional structure is superimposed on each cross-sectional image with an indicator attached to the intersecting position, then the observer can easily understand to which position on the three-dimensional structure each cross-sectional image corresponds, but as the length of the extracted three-dimensional structure becomes long or as the structure becomes complicated, the three-dimensional structure displayed in a superimposed manner becomes large, which hinders observation of a region of interest and observability is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the three-dimensional structure into multiple portions based on spatial proximity to the cross-sectional image. Only portions within a predetermined distance range are superimposed, while distant portions are excluded. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by dividing the structure into relevant and irrelevant parts, maintaining correspondence information for the relevant portion while eliminating visual clutter from distant portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the superimposition property location-dependent. Different portions of the three-dimensional structure have different visibility properties: portions close to the cross-sectional image are superimposed to show correspondence, while portions far away are not superimposed to avoid hindering observation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between showing correspondence and maintaining observability.
2Shape
If the entirety of the extracted three-dimensional structure is superimposed on each cross-sectional image, then the three-dimensional configuration can be displayed, but the three-dimensional structure becomes large and hinders observation of a region of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant portion of the three-dimensional structure that is needed for displaying the three-dimensional configuration, specifically portions within a predetermined distance from the cross-sectional image. By taking out and displaying only this essential portion while excluding the rest, the patent maintains the three-dimensional configuration display function while reducing the display area occupied by the structure, thus resolving the contradiction.
Data Source
AI summary
Extracting a luminal or line-like three-dimensional structure from a three-dimensional image of a target object, then generating a projection image by projecting a portion of the entirety of the three-dimensional structure on a cross-sectional image of the target object intersecting the three-dimensional structure, the portion being a portion located within a range of a predetermined thickness from a cross-section represented by the cross-sectional image or a portion located within a range of a predetermined distance from a position where the three-dimensional structure is intersecting the cross-sectional image, and displaying the generated projection image.