Patent ID: 7853304
Filing Date: 2010-12-14
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for reconstructing two-dimensional sectional images from a four-dimensional dynamic image data set of an object having an interior space surrounded by walls, the four-dimensional image data set being acquired by a medical imaging method and containing several three-dimensional data sets each representing a certain, different time frame within an object cycle, the method comprising: (a) defining a respective anatomical long axis within the image data set through the object such that a length and shape of the respective anatomical long axis is adapted to a length and shape of the object; (b) defining a series of intersection points within the data set distributed along the anatomical long axis; (c) defining a series of sectional planes within the data set, wherein each sectional plane intersects an intersection point on the respective anatomical long axis, wherein the respective anatomical long axis is not contained in said sectional planes with the exception of the intersection point, and wherein the sectional plane and a tangent of the anatomical long axis at the intersection point form approximately a right angle with each other; and (d) calculating sectional images corresponding to the sectional planes from the four-dimensional image data set via a reconstruction device, wherein steps a) to d) are automatically repeated for each different three-dimensional data set within a single object cycle, thereby defining a respective anatomical long axis for each time frame, a length and/or shape of each respective anatomical long axis being variable over time wherein a relative distribution of the series of intersection points along each respective anatomical long axis is kept constant automatically, over the different time frames, such that absolute distances between the series of intersection points vary over time in proportion with the length of each anatomical long axis.