3D Spine Model Reconstruction Based on RGBD Images of Unclothed Back Surface

IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2024 Jan;71(1):270-281. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2023.3298140. Epub 2023 Dec 22.

Abstract

Most 3D spine reconstruction methods require X-ray images as input, which usually leads to high cost and radiation damage. Therefore, these methods are hardly ever applied to large scale scoliosis screening or spine pose monitoring during treatment. We propose a novel, low-cost, easy-to-operate and none-radioactive 3D spine model reconstruction method, which is based on human back surface information without requiring X-ray images as input. Our method fits a pre-built Spine Priors Model (SPrM) to human back surface information and reconstructs the main part of spine with 17 vertebrae: lumbar vertebrae L1-L5 and thoracic vertebrae T1-T12. The Spine Priors Model is constructed according to human spine priors, including Statistical Spine Shape Model (SSSM), Spine Pose Model (SPM) and Spine Biomechanical Simplified Model (SBSM). The spine-related information on back surface, including back surface spinous curve and local symmetry nearby spinous curve is extracted from the RGBD images of human back surface. We formulate the spine optimization constraints from spine-related feature on back surface and spine priors, then optimize the spine model by gradient descent to get the optimal personalized shape parameters and pose parameters of the Spine Priors Model (SPrM). We assess our reconstruction by scoliosis Cobb angle error, and the result is comparable to current X-ray based methods.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery
  • Radiography
  • Scoliosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Scoliosis* / surgery
  • Spine / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / surgery
  • X-Rays