Method for analyzing medical image data using level set

1. A method for analyzing a medical image generated from data obtained from medical imaging equipment, comprising:

using medical imaging apparatus to perform the steps of:

obtaining from the data a plurality of surface fronts on an image of an object obtained from the data, such surface fronts being disposed in a three dimensional volume in the object;

evolving each one of the surface fronts to form a common enclosed volume; and

terminating the process when the common enclosed volume reaches boundaries of the object and;

wherein the obtaining step comprises:

(a) obtaining the data in a plane traverse an anatomical object;

(b) identifying a point disposed on the object in the plane;

(c) detecting contour points of the object in the plane from the identified point;

(d) analyzing the obtained contour points to predict a subsequent point on the object and a tracing direction, such tracing direction being along the length of the object; and

(e) determining a subsequent plane transverse the object, such predicted point being in the subsequent plane; establishing a predetermined criteria; and repeating (a) through (e) the process until the predetermined criterion is satisfied.

2. A method for analyzing a medical image generated from data obtained from medical imaging equipment, comprising:

using medical imaging apparatus to perform the steps of:

obtaining from the data a plurality of surface fronts on an image of an object obtained from the data, such surface fronts being disposed in a three dimensional volume in the object;

evolving each one of the surface fronts to form a common enclosed volume;

terminating the process when the common enclosed volume reaches boundaries of the object and

wherein the obtaining step comprises:

(a) obtaining the data in a plane traverse each one of a plurality of an anatomical objects;

(b) identifying a point disposed on a corresponding one of the plurality of objects in the plane;

(c) detecting contour points of each one of the objects in the plane from the identified points;

(d) analyzing the obtained contour points to predict a subsequent point on the object and a tracing direction, such tracing direction being along the length of a corresponding one of the objects; and

(e) determining subsequent planes each one of the subsequent planes being transverse a corresponding one of the objects, such predicted points being in the subsequent planes; establishing a predetermined criteria; and repeating (a) through (e) the process until the predetermined criterion is satisfied.

3. A method for analyzing a medical image generated from data obtained from medical imaging equipment, comprising:

using medical imaging apparatus to perform the steps of:

obtaining from the data a plurality of surface fronts on an image of an object obtained from the data, such surface fronts being disposed in a three dimensional volume in the object;

evolving each one of the surface fronts to form a common enclosed volume;

terminating the process when the common enclosed volume reaches boundaries of the object and

wherein the obtaining step comprises:

obtaining data in a plane traverse each one of a plurality of an anatomical objects terminating in a common support;

identifying a point disposed on a corresponding one of the plurality of objects in the plane;

detecting contour points of each one of the objects in the plane from the identified points;

analyzing the obtained contour points to predict a subsequent point on the object and a tracing direction, such tracing direction being along the length of a corresponding one of the objects;

determining subsequent planes, each one of the subsequent planes being transverse a corresponding one of the objects, such predicted points being in the subsequent planes; repeating the process until the tracing direction reaches the common support.

4. The method recited in claim 1 wherein the objects are ribs of an anatomical body and wherein the common support is a vertebra attached to the ribs.

5. A method for analyzing a medical image generated from data obtained of a tubular structure, comprising:

using medical imaging apparatus to perform the steps of:

obtaining from the data a plurality of surface fronts on an image of an object obtained from the data, such surface fronts being disposed in a three dimensional volume in the object;

evolving each one of the surface fronts to form a common enclosed volume;

terminating the process when the common enclosed volume reaches boundaries of the object and

wherein the obtaining step comprises:

(a) selecting medical imaging data representative of a plane traverse a region of the tubular structure;

(b) defining a mathematical model of the tubular structure from the data;

(c) identifying from the model a seed point disposed in a central region of the tubular structure and in the plane;

(d) processing the seed point to detect contour points of said tubular structure in the plane;

(e) analyzing the obtained contour points in the plane to predict a point along a tracing direction, such tracing direction being along a length of said tubular structure;

(f) establishing a new plane perpendicular to the tracing direction; and

(g) repeating (c) through (f) until a predetermined criterion is satisfied.