Patent ID: 7817830
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: A61B,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method of locating an elongated object in a three dimensional data array, the method comprising: selecting a first slice of data through the three-dimensional array, the first slice of data being generally lengthways of the elongated object; identifying points on the elongated object in the first slice of data; transposing columns of voxels in the first slice of data in a direction parallel to the first slice of data and transverse to the elongated object to align the points in a straight line parallel to the first slice of data, the columns being parallel to the first slice of data and transverse to the elongated object; rotating the three-dimensional data array around a length direction of the elongated object to obtain a second slice of data; identifying additional points on the elongated object in the second slice of data; transposing columns of data in the second slice of data in a direction parallel to the second slice of data and transverse to the elongated object to align the previously identified points and the additional points in a substantially straight line parallel to the second slice of data; and repeating the acts of rotating, identifying, and transposing until a minimum number of points are aligned along the straight line.