Method of centerline generation in virtual objects

US7324104B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Research Foundation of the State University of New York · US

Inventors

• Ingmar Bitter · Lake Grove, US
• Arie E. Kaufman · Plainview, US
• Ming Wan · Sammamish, US
• Jerome Z. Liang · Stony Brook, US
• Mark R. Wax · Greenlawn, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 16, 2002
• Grant date: Jan 29, 2008
• Expiry date: Jul 26, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2210/41
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Methods for generating a centerline or skeleton structure within a 3D virtual object are provided. A first method defines a centerline based on distance from boundary values along points of the defined centerline. A second method uses a distance from boundary field to assign costs to voxels in the virtual object and defines a minimum cost spanning tree based on assigned costs. The centerline is defined along the minimum cost spanning tree. Branches along the centerline are identified and added to the centerline to define a skeleton.