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Two algorithms for the three‐dimensional reconstruction of tomograms
Author(s) -
Cline H. E.,
Lorensen W. E.,
Ludke S.,
Crawford C. R.,
Teeter B. C.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.596225
Subject(s) - tomography , magnetic resonance imaging , computer science , iterative reconstruction , polygon (computer graphics) , point (geometry) , surface (topology) , algorithm , surface reconstruction , computer vision , physics , geometry , mathematics , optics , medicine , radiology , telecommunications , frame (networking)
Three‐dimensional (3‐D) surface reconstructions provide a method to view complex anatomy contained in a set of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or single photon emission computed tomography tomograms. Existing methods of 3‐D display generate images based on the distance from an imaginary observation point to a patch on the surface and on the surface normal of the patch. We believe that the normalized gradient of the original values in the CT or MRI tomograms provides a better estimate for the surface normal and hence results in higher quality 3‐D images. Then two algorithms that generate 3‐D surface models are presented. The new methods use polygon and point primitives to interface with computer‐aided design equipment. Finally, several 3‐D images of both bony and soft tissue show the skull, spine, internal air cavities of the head and abdomen, and the abdominal aorta in detail.