Automatic adjustment of bidimensional transfer functions for direct volume visualization of intracranial aneurysms

Fernando Vega Higuera; Natascha Sauber; Bernd Tomandl; Christopher Nimsky; Guenther Greiner; Peter Hastreiter

doi:10.1117/12.535534

5 May 2004 Automatic adjustment of bidimensional transfer functions for direct volume visualization of intracranial aneurysms

Fernando Vega Higuera, Natascha Sauber, Bernd Tomandl, Christopher Nimsky, Guenther Greiner, Peter Hastreiter

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5367, Medical Imaging 2004: Visualization, Image-Guided Procedures, and Display; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.535534
Event: Medical Imaging 2004, 2004, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Direct volume visualization of computer tomography data is based on the mapping of data values to colors and opacities with lookup-tables known as transfer functions (TF). Often, limitations of one-dimensional TF become evident when it comes to the visualization of aneurysms close the skull base. Computer tomography angiography data is used for the 3D-representation of the vessels filled with contrast medium. The reduced intensity differences between osseous tissue and contrast medium lead to strong artifacts and ambiguous visualizations. We introduced the use of bidimensional TFs based on measured intensities and gradient magnitudes for the visualization of aneurysms involving the skull base. The obtained results are clearly superior to a standard approach with one-dimensional TFs. Nevertheless, the additional degree of freedom increases the difficulty involved in creating adequate TFs. In order to address this problem, we introduce automatic adjustment of bidimensional TFs through a registration of respective 2D histograms. Initially, a dataset is set as reference and the information contained in its 2D histogram (intensities and gradient magnitudes) is used to create a TF template which produces a clear visualization of the vessels. When a new dataset is examined, elastic registration of the reference and target 2D histograms is carried out. The resulting free form deformation is then used for the automatic adjustment of the reference TF, in order to automatically obtain a clear volume visualization of the vascular structures within the examined dataset. Results are comparable to manually created TFs. This approach makes it possible to successfully use bidimensional TFs without technical insight and training.

Citation Download Citation

Fernando Vega Higuera, Natascha Sauber, Bernd Tomandl, Christopher Nimsky, Guenther Greiner, and Peter Hastreiter "Automatic adjustment of bidimensional transfer functions for direct volume visualization of intracranial aneurysms", Proc. SPIE 5367, Medical Imaging 2004: Visualization, Image-Guided Procedures, and Display, (5 May 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.535534

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