University of Washington

John A McDonald

Florence H Sheehan

Edward L Bolson

Malcolm E Legget

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.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

John A McDonald