Heterogeneous modeling of medical image data using B-spline functions

Proc Inst Mech Eng H. 2012 Oct;226(10):737-51. doi: 10.1177/0954411912452995.

Abstract

Biomedical data visualization and modeling rely predominately on manual processing and utilization of voxel- and facet-based homogeneous models. Biological structures are naturally heterogeneous and it is important to incorporate properties, such as material composition, size and shape, into the modeling process. A method to approximate image density data with a continuous B-spline surface is presented. The proposed approach generates a density point cloud, based on medical image data to reproduce heterogeneity across the image, through point densities. The density point cloud is ordered and approximated with a set of B-spline curves. A B-spline surface is lofted through the cross-sectional B-spline curves preserving the heterogeneity of the point cloud dataset. Preliminary results indicate that the proposed methodology produces a mathematical representation capable of capturing and preserving density variations with high fidelity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Animals
  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Models, Anatomic*
  • Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted*