Patent ID: 7672790
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A graphics processing unit implemented method for fiber tract mapping from diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging data, said method comprising the steps of: providing a digitized brain image volume comprising a plurality of 3×3 diffusion tensors corresponding to a 3-dimensional grid of points; initializing a set of fiber positions in a 3D set of points, fiber displacements, and a posterior distribution for an updated fiber displacement in terms of the initial displacements and diffusion tensors, wherein said posterior distribution is  wherein c is a normalization constant, v  wherein λ  wherein λ randomly sampling a set of updated fiber displacements from said posterior distribution; computing a new set of fiber positions from said initial fiber positions and said updated fiber displacements, wherein a fiber path comprises a set of fiber points connected by successive fiber displacements; accumulating connectivity values in each point of said 3D set of points by additive alpha-blending a scaled value if a fiber path has passed through a point and adding zero if not; and rendering said connectivity values, wherein said steps of initializing a set of fiber positions, randomly sampling a set of updated fiber displacements, computing a new set of fiber positions, accumulating connectivity values, and rendering said connectivity values are performed by a graphics processing unit.