Patent ID: 7620225
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method to visualize for visualizing tubular anatomical structures from 3D recorded medical images, the method comprising: providing segmented 3D image data of a tubular structure; automatically approximating the tubular structure represented by the segmented 3D image data via a multiplicity of mutually adjacent at least one of cylindrical and conically tapering elements; and displaying the multiplicity of mutually adjacent at least one of cylindrical and conically tapering elements without the segmented 3D image data of the tubular structure, wherein automatically approximating the tubular structure is performed by: the multiplicity of mutually adjacent at least one of cylindrical and conically tapering elements are projected onto a plane in such a way that bifurcations of a different hierarchical stage lie on different rings, and bifurcations of an identical hierarchical stage lie respectively on an identical ring, and wherein the projection is displayed together with the rings.