Abstract: A system and method are provided 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 that 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; where imaging data sets are acquired using conventional two-dimensional scans of the object in both a supine and prone orientation, and correspondence between the respective data sets is determined to permit jumping from one visualization orientation to the other while remaining at the same virtual location within the organ.

Abstract: Methods are provided for optimizing a vessel centerline in a digital image. For instance, a method includes providing a digital image of a vessel wherein said image comprises a plurality of intensities corresponding to a domain of points in a D-dimensional space, initializing a centerline comprising a plurality of points in the vessel (step 20), determining a cross section of the vessel at each point in the centerline (step 21), evaluating a center point for each cross section of the vessel (step 22), and determining a refined centerline from the center points of each cross section (step 23).

Abstract: A system (100) and corresponding method for vessel segmentation are provided, the system having an adapter (112, 128, 130) for receiving image data, a processor (102) in signal communication with the input adapter, a pre-processing unit (170) in signal communication with the processor for pre-processing the received image data, and a vessel segmentation unit (180) in signal communication with the processor for segmenting vessels using pre-processed data; and the corresponding method including receiving image data, pre-processing the received data, and segmenting vessels responsive to the pre-processed data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for motion artifact detection and correction, where an apparatus includes a scanning device for receiving two-dimensional image slices of an object, a rendering device in signal communication with the scanning device for rendering a three-dimensional volume representation of the two-dimensional image slices, and a correction device in signal communication with the rendering device for correcting motion artifacts within the three-dimensional volume representation; and a corresponding method for detecting motion artifacts within scan data of a region comprising an object includes creating a three-dimensional representation with volume elements of the region based on the scan data, analyzing the volume elements along a boundary of the object, and determining the existence of a motion artifact in response to the analyzing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for motion artifact detection and correction, where an apparatus includes a scanning device for receiving two-dimensional image slices of an object, a rendering device in signal communication with the scanning device for rendering a three-dimensional volume representation of the two-dimensional image slices, and a correction device in signal communication with the rendering device for correcting motion artifacts within the three-dimensional volume representation; and a corresponding method for detecting motion artifacts within scan data of a region comprising an object includes creating a three-dimensional representation with volume elements of the region based on the scan data, analyzing the volume elements along a boundary of the object, and determining the existence of a motion artifact in response to the analyzing.