2D Shadow Image Simulation Using 3D Surface Meshes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for simulating 2D X-ray angiographic images from 3D volumetric data are computationally intensive and impractical for low-end hardware, such as mobile devices, due to the need for large data processing and limited calculation power, making it difficult to generate dynamic images with acceptable performance.
Innovation Solution
The method calculates 2D shadow images from 3D mesh data instead of volumetric data, allowing for reduced data transfer and processing, using surface meshes that can be easily stored and transferred on low-end devices, and employs a rendering unit to calculate pixel brightness based on attenuation coefficients and path lengths within the mesh.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If 2D shadow images are calculated from full 3D volumetric data, then image quality and accuracy are improved, but computational time and processing power requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential surface information from the 3D volumetric data to create a simplified 3D mesh representation. This mesh contains only the boundary surface geometry needed for shadow image simulation, removing all internal voxel data. The extraction process converts dense volumetric data into a lightweight surface model that retains sufficient detail for accurate shadow rendering while dramatically reducing computational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the 3D object in the form of a mesh surface model. This mesh copy reproduces the external geometry and shape characteristics necessary for accurate shadow image generation, but uses far fewer data elements than the original volumetric representation. The mesh serves as a computationally efficient proxy that maintains visual fidelity for shadow simulation purposes.
2Loss of information
If full 3D volumetric data is transferred and processed, then complete object information is available, but data transfer size and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the boundary surface information from the 3D volumetric dataset, discarding internal voxel data that is not necessary for shadow image simulation. This extraction creates a compact 3D mesh representation that contains minimal sufficient information - only the surface geometry needed to calculate accurate shadows. The result is a dramatic reduction in data size while preserving all information relevant to external lighting and shadow rendering.
3Productivity
If parallel processing on GPU is used, then processing speed is improved, but hardware requirements and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by providing a simplified mesh data structure that is inherently more efficient to process. The reduced data complexity allows standard processing units to achieve acceptable performance without requiring specialized parallel processing hardware. The mesh representation naturally lends itself to efficient traversal and ray-surface intersection calculations that can be performed with simpler, more accessible computing resources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables fast and efficient simulation of 2D X-ray angiographic images on a wide range of devices, including mobile platforms, without requiring full 3D volumetric data access, while maintaining high-quality image rendering.
Implementation Method 1
the simulation of the 2D X-ray angiographic image is based on calculating the intensity of each pixel of the 2D image from the full 3D volumetric image
Data Source
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Figure 2a~2b
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AI summary
Method for simulating two-dimensional (2D) shadow images of an object, particularly an asymmetrical object, the method comprising: a) obtaining a representation of the surface of said object (502); b) inputting a perspective viewing direction defining a virtual path line (504); c) calculating intersections between the virtual path line and the surface of the object (506); d) calculating the distance between couples of consecutive intersections (508); e) calculating simulated beam intensity attenuation between such couples of consecutive intersections from an input parameter related to the attenuation coefficient of the object and the distance as calculated in d) (510); f) displaying the simulated beam intensity attenuation as pixel brightness in a grey or colour scale in the form of a shadow image (511). A corresponding device, system and computer program are also disclosed.