Patent ID: 8249345

Claim:
A computerized method for calculating a path metric of a candidate piece of a contour in a cross-sectional image to generate a three dimensional model using a plurality of cross-sectional images of an object, the method comprising: storing data indicative of the cross-sectional image; calculating a cost of each of a plurality of pixels associated with the candidate piece using the data, wherein the cost is representative of a likelihood the pixel is on the contour and the cost is based on one or more templates; calculating an orientation change value for each of the plurality of pixels associated with the candidate piece, wherein the orientation change value is calculated based on an angular change between the initial pixel of the candidate piece and the pixel, wherein the orientation change value is calculated without reference to the one or more templates; calculating a ratio of pixels based on pixels of the cross-sectional image; calculating a second ratio of one minus the calculated ratio over one plus the calculated ratio; and storing the path metric of the candidate piece of the contour, the value of the stored path metric being based on the calculated cost, the calculated orientation change value, and the calculated ratio.