Method for detecting unobserved regions in virtual endoscopy system

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This paper shows a method for detecting unobserved regions (oversight regions) during fly-through on Virtual Endoscopy System (VES). When a VES is used as a diagnostic tool, e.g., to find colonopolyps, it is very important for doctors to observe the whole target organ without unobserved regions. The proposed method consists of three parts for detecting unobserved regions: (a) recording of observed triangle patches or voxels, (b) calculation of unobserved regions, and (c) display of unobserved regions. First, the system marks triangle patches that are displayed on the screen at each frame as 'observed patches' in the case of the surface rendering. Presented voxels are calculated in the case of the volume rendering. We execute this process for all frames of the fly-through. Then, the method labels those triangle patches or voxels that do not have 'observed' marks as 'unobserved triangle patches or voxels.' We calculate connected 'unobserved' patches or voxels and consider them to be 'unobserved regions.' In the presentation step, the system displays the target organ while coloring unobserved regions. The method also automatically presents each unobserved region by setting the viewpoint and the view direction around the region. We implemented the proposed method in a VES and applied the VES to colon regions. The experimental results showed that the proposed method can detect unobserved regions and display them effectively.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: