Patent ID: 7903856

Claim:
A method for post-processing a 3D image data set of a vessel structure of a live body, comprising: recording a 2D digital subtraction angiography of the vessel structure in a first direction of projection; segmenting the 3D image data set and the 2D digital subtraction angiography through a threshold value method with the segments being assigned to the vessel structure; registering the 2D digital subtraction angiography with the 3D image data set; generating a computed projection image by computing a projection of the 3D image data set on an image plane in the first direction of projection; comparing the computed projection image with the 2D digital subtraction angiography; and automatically modifying a local segmentation threshold value of the 3D image data set for adapting the computed projection image to the 2D digital subtraction angiography; comparing the segments on the computed projection image and on the 2D digital subtraction angiography to detect a difference area, assigning the different segment area into a vessel section in the 3D image data set by back projecting the computed projection image, and changing the local segmentation threshold value of the 3D image data set in the different segment area voxel-by-voxel so that a segment assigned to the vessel section on a further computed projection image closely matches a segment assigned to the vessel section on the 2D digital subtraction angiography.