Patent ID: 8052623

Claim:
A method for computer-assisted joint analysis, comprising: a) providing a three-dimensional image data set of a joint; b) performing a computer-assisted segmentation of the data set to identify a shape of at least two joint elements in the data set; c) calculating, with computer assistance, a three-dimensional image of at least one joint element of the at least two joint elements; d) determining or selecting a reference area for the at least one joint element of the at least two joint elements; e) projecting the three-dimensional image of the at least one joint element onto the reference area using point position correspondence, said point position correspondence comprising defining at least one reference point and direction on a surface of the at least one joint element and on the reference area, calculating a surface distance and direction with respect to the at least one reference point for each point on the at least one joint element, and using the calculated surface distance and direction to determine a corresponding point on the reference area; and f) outputting and/or storing the projected three-dimensional image.