Apparatus and method for improvement of 3D images derived from tomographic data
November 9, 2007. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesData acquisition in tomography Image-data reduction technique High-speed image generation of complex solid objects using octree encoding Displaying a single parameter image Shading apparatus for displaying three dimensional objects System and method for the display of surface structures contained within the interior region of a solid body Dividing cubes system and method for the display of surface structures contained within the interior region of a solid body Three dimensional medical image display system Patent #: 4737921 InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 07/118628 filed on 11/09/1987US Classes:382/131, Tomography (e.g., CAT scanner)345/419Three-dimensionExaminersPrimary: Smith, JerryAssistant: Kibby, Steven G. Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassG06T 17/00 (20060101)AbstractData in tomographic images is convolved with a low-pass filter to reduce the maximum spatial frequency permitting unique mapping of surface images to a rasterized display. The filter may use linear or other weighting. Re-sampling after the filter is optional. The filtered tomographic data is employed to determine the locations and normal vectors of the surface. The locations and normal vectors employed by a computer graphics processor for applying shading in relation to the angle between the normal vector to a surface element and an operator- defined line of sight to the surface. | |
