System and method for performing a three-dimensional virtual segmentation and examination
US6331116A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 29, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 29, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06V2201/03
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for generating a three-dimensional visualization image of an object such as an organ using volume visualization techniques and exploring the image using a guided navigation system which allows the operator to travel along a flight path and to adjust the view to a particular portion of the image of interest in order, for example, to identify polyps, cysts or other abnormal features in the visualized organ. An electronic biopsy can also be performed on an identified growth or mass in the visualized object. Virtual colonoscopy can be enhanced by electronically removing residual stool, fluid and non-colonic tissue from the image of the colon, by employing bowel preparation followed by image segmentation operations. Methods are also employed for virtually expanding regions of colon collapse using image segmentation results.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.