University of Washington

Edward L Bolson

Florence H Sheehan

Paul D Sampson

Huaichuan Jin

Malcolm E Legget

Fred L Bookstein

John A McDonald

A method is disclosed for reconstructing a surface of an object using three-dimensional imaging data. While the method can be applied to reconstruct the surface of almost any object represented by three-dimensional data obtained by some imaging modality, an example of the technique is disclosed that reconstructs the surface of a left ventricle. In the disclosed example, digital imaging data for a patient's heart are traced producing a data set of points that define the border and specific anatomic features of the left ventricle. An abstract model of a generalized left ventricle is generated that fits a wide range of sizes and shapes of this portion of the heart. The abstract model includes an abstract control mesh in which the anatomic features are labeled and sharp (edge) characteristics are identified. Coordinates are assigned to the abstract control mesh, producing an initial embedded mesh, which is then subdivided twice to increase its smoothness. The embedded subdivided mesh is rigidly aligned with the data set points of the patient's left ventricle, and in particular, with the anatomic features. Finally, the aligned subdivided mesh is optimally fit to the data set points and anatomic features, yielding the reconstructed surface of the organ. The reconstruction of a surface using medical imaging data is a particularly good exemplary application of the invention, because it shows that the method can be employed for reconstructing the surface of any three-dimensional object that is defined by relatively sparse and noisy data points.

Reconstruction of three-dimensional objects using labeled piecewise

A method for imaging and three-dimensional modeling portions of the heart, particularly the left ventricular endocardial and epicardial surfaces, using imaging data. Preferably, a transesophageal ultrasound probe is inserted into an esophagus of a patient to provide multiple plane imaging data at end systole and end diastole during a cardiac cycle. The image planes are then traced along the boundaries of the epicardial and endocardial surfaces to produce sets of data points, which are further processed and expanded through interpolation. These data points are used for modeling the endocardial and epicardial surface at the end systole and end diastole extremes of the cardiac cycle. A center surface is constructed between an inner and outer surface of the modeled surfaces of the left ventricle and either an average template of tiled sections is mapped onto this center surface, or a mesh of triangular tiled sections representing the inner surface is projected on the center surface to define corresponding numbered tiled sections on the center surface. The tiled sections of the center surface are then projected onto the inner and outer surfaces, defining triangular prisms. By determining the volume of the triangular prisms and an average area for their ends, the range of movement, which is equal to the volume divided by the average area, is determined. Similarly, for changes in wall thickness between the endocardial and epicardial surfaces at end diastole and end systole, the thickening of the cardiac wall is determined.

Determining cardiac wall thickness and motion by imaging and

A method for imaging and three-dimensional modeling portions of the heart, particularly, the left ventricular endocardial and epicardial surfaces, using imaging data. Preferably, a transesophageal ultrasound probe is inserted into an esophagus of a patient to provide multiple plane imaging data at end systole and end diastole during a cardiac cycle. The image planes are then traced along the boundaries of the epicardial and endocardial surfaces to produce sets of data points, which are further processed and expanded through interpolation. These data points are used for modeling the endocardial and epicardial surface at the end systole and end diastole extremes of the cardiac cycle. A center surface is constructed between an inner and outer surface of the modeled surfaces of the left ventricle and an average template of tiled sections is mapped onto this center surface. The mapped tiled sections are then projected onto the inner and outer surfaces, defining triangular prisms. By determining the volume of the triangular prisms and an average area for their ends, the range of movement, which is equal to the volume divided by the average area, is determined. Similarly, for changes in wall thickness between the endocardial and epicardial surfaces at end diastole and end systole, the thickening of the cardiac wall is determined.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Edward L Bolson