Abstract: A method for analyzing an anatomical structure of a patient may include the steps of receiving volumetric scan data representative of one or more features of an anatomical structure; mapping the features to a node tree diagram; and displaying the node tree diagram. The features can comprise branching points, pathways connecting the branching points, and location data of the branching points and pathways. The node tree diagram may comprise a plurality of nodes and branches representing the branching points and pathways in the anatomical structure, respectively. The plurality of nodes may comprise a root node representing a root branching point as well as additional nodes representing additional branching points. Additionally, the node tree diagram may comprise a first set of one or more regions, wherein each region encompasses a respective portion of the node tree diagram and is representative of a defined portion of the anatomical structure.

Abstract: A method for visualizing sub-pleural regions of an anatomical structure of interest from a set of volumetric data includes receiving the set of volumetric data representative of the anatomical structure. The anatomical structure can comprise an outer surface and a plurality of sub-pleural regions with each of the plurality of sub-pleural regions being a region of the anatomical structure which is distant from the outer surface by a corresponding sub-pleural depth. The method further includes determine a first sub-pleural region of the anatomical structure of interest and extracting, from the set of volumetric data, the portions of volumetric data representative of the first sub-pleural region. The method also includes rendering a display image based upon the first sub-pleural region and the extracted volumetric data.

Abstract: A method for visualizing a tubular object from a set of volumetric data may include the steps of: determining a viewing direction for the tubular object; selecting a constraint subset of the tubular object within the volumetric data; defining a cut-surface through the volumetric data and including the constraint subset of the tubular object within the volumetric data; and rendering an image based upon the determined viewing direction and the volumetric data of the tubular object along the intersection of the volumetric data and the defined cut-surface. Additionally or alternatively, the method may identify a plurality of bifurcations in the tubular object; assign a weighting factor to each identified bifurcation; determine a bifurcation normal vector associated with each bifurcation; determine a weighted average of the bifurcation normal vectors; and render an image of the volumetric data from a perspective parallel to the weighted average of the bifurcation normal vectors.

Abstract: A method for analyzing an anatomical structure of a patient may include the steps of receiving volumetric scan data representative of one or more features of an anatomical structure; mapping the features to a node tree diagram; and displaying the node tree diagram. The features can comprise branching points, pathways connecting the branching points, and location data of the branching points and pathways. The node tree diagram may comprise a plurality of nodes and branches representing the branching points and pathways in the anatomical structure, respectively. The plurality of nodes may comprise a root node representing a root branching point as well as additional nodes representing additional branching points. Additionally, the node tree diagram may comprise a first set of one or more regions, wherein each region encompasses a respective portion of the node tree diagram and is representative of a defined portion of the anatomical structure.

Abstract: A method for visualizing a tubular object from a set of volumetric data may include the steps of: determining a viewing direction for the tubular object; selecting a constraint subset of the tubular object within the volumetric data; defining a cut-surface through the volumetric data and including the constraint subset of the tubular object within the volumetric data; and rendering an image based upon the determined viewing direction and the volumetric data of the tubular object along the intersection of the volumetric data and the defined cut-surface. Additionally or alternatively, the method may identify a plurality of bifurcations in the tubular object; assign a weighting factor to each identified bifurcation; determine a bifurcation normal vector associated with each bifurcation; determine a weighted average of the bifurcation normal vectors; and render an image of the volumetric data from a perspective parallel to the weighted average of the bifurcation normal vectors.