Orthogonal View Generation for Anatomical Surface Delineation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Volumetric image displays often present anatomical structures in unclear manners, making it difficult for clinicians to accurately delineate surfaces, particularly when cross-sections intersect the surface in a shallow angle, leading to blurred outlines.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that generate a second view of a volumetric image with a viewing plane intersecting the surface orthogonally at a determined location, using a display processor to analyze image data and adjust the viewing plane based on the local orientation of the surface, providing a sharper depiction of the anatomical structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a first viewing plane is used to generate a cross-section view of the volumetric image, then the view can be generated using standard multi-planar reformatting techniques, but the surface of the anatomical structure is shown in an unclear and blurred manner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a standard cross-sectional view to an orthogonal view by changing the viewing dimension. The second viewing plane is generated to be substantially orthogonal to the surface of the anatomical structure, providing a perpendicular perspective that sharply delineates the surface boundaries and resolves the blurring issue while maintaining ease of generation through automated orientation calculation.
2Device complexity
If a viewing plane intersects the surface of the anatomical structure at a shallow angle, then the view generation is simple, but the surface outline becomes blurred and difficult to delineate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the viewing plane from a shallow angle to a substantially orthogonal angle relative to the surface. This parameter change is achieved by calculating the normal vector of the surface and aligning the second viewing plane perpendicular to it, thereby sharpening the surface outline and improving delineation precision without significantly increasing system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If a second viewing plane orthogonal to the surface is generated, then the surface is shown in a sharper and clearer manner, but the complexity of determining local orientation and generating the orthogonal view increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically calculating the local orientation of the surface and generating the orthogonal viewing plane without requiring manual intervention. The display processor computes the normal vector from the image data and autonomously configures the second viewing plane, thereby achieving high surface delineation precision while keeping the operational complexity low for the user.
4Productivity
If standard multi-planar reformatting is used to generate views, then the process is straightforward and quick, but the surface of the anatomical structure cannot be clearly delineated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating the local orientation and normal vector of the surface before generating the orthogonal view. This preparatory step enables the system to quickly generate the second viewing plane with high surface delineation precision, maintaining productivity while improving measurement precision through automated orientation determination.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method is provided for visualizing a volumetric image of an anatomical structure. Using a first view of the volumetric image showing a non-orthogonal cross-section of a surface of the anatomical structure, a local orientation of the surface within the volumetric image is determined, namely by analyzing the image data of the volumetric image. Having determined the local orientation of the surface, a second view is generated of the volumetric image, the second view being geometrically defined by a viewing plane intersecting the surface of the anatomical structure in the volumetric image orthogonally. Accordingly, the surface is shown in a sharper manner in the second view than would typically be the case in the first view. Advantageously, the user can manually define or correct a delineation of the outline of the anatomical structure in a more precise manner. Moreover, various other advantageously uses of such a second view exist, such as facilitating the image interpretation by the clinician, more reliable further automatic analysis, etc.