Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.v.

Bert L A Verdonck

Marcel Breeuwer

Sherif Makram-Ebeid

Frans Andreas Gerritsen

Sylvain Devillers

Philippe Lacour

A method of deriving geometrical data of a structure from an image of the structure comprises the selection of marker points in the image. A typical contour is associated with the marker points and the geometrical data is calculated from the typical contour. According to the invention, correctness values are associated with the marker points. The correctness values indicate the reliability of the correspondence of the marker points to typical (anatomical) features in the structure. Furthermore, a cost function is associated with a typical contour, which cost function is dependent on the correctness values of the marker points. The typical contour is arranged in such a manner that the cost function reaches an optimum value, such as a local maximum or minimum value. The method is particularly suitable for deriving geometrical data, such as angles and distances concerning the spinal column of a patient. Preferably, some clearly recognizable marker points are manually indicated and derived marker points are obtained by interpolation between the manually indicated marker points.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Bert L A Verdonck