Method for tooth dissection in CBCT volume
View Patent ↗A method of generating a dissection curve between a first and a second object in a volume image. The method accesses volume image data of a subject as a set of image slices and identifies a region of the volume image data that includes at least the first and second objects. At least one starting point in the volume image data is defined for the dissection curve according to a geometric primitive entered by an operator. Successive dissection curve points are identified according to points of minimum intensity in successive image slices. The dissection curve that connects the identified plurality of successive dissection curve points is displayed.
1. A method of generating a dissection curve between a first and a second object in a volume image, the method executed at least in part on a computer, comprising:
accessing volume image data of a subject as a set of image slices;
identifying a region of the volume image data that comprises at least the first and second objects;
defining one starting point in the volume image data for the dissection curve according to a geometric primitive;
from the one starting point, identifying a plurality of successive dissection curve points that are points of minimum intensity in successive image slices; and
displaying the dissection curve that connects the identified plurality of successive dissection curve points.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing the volume image data comprises obtaining data from a picture archival system.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing the volume image data comprises obtaining cone beam computed tomography data.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the geometric primitive is a rectangle defined by the operator that encompasses the first or the second object in one view of the volume image.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the geometric primitive is identified by an operator using a touch screen.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the geometric primitive is entered by an operator on an unfolded coronal view of a dental arch and wherein the points of minimum intensity are determined relative to an axial view of the dental arch.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising transforming the accessed volume image data to flatten the shape of a dental arch.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein defining the at least one starting point comprises determining the edge of the entered geometric primitive.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the plurality of successive dissection curve points comprises applying a dimensional constraint in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the dissection curve.
10. A method of generating a dissection curve between a first and a second tooth in a volume image, the method executed at least in part on a computer, comprising:
accessing volume image data of a dental arch of a patient as a set of image slices;
transforming the volume image data to display the dental arch as an unfolded image;
identifying a region of the transformed volume image data that comprises at least the first and second teeth;
defining at least one starting point in the volume image data for the dissection curve according to a geometric primitive;
from the at least one starting point, identifying a plurality of successive dissection curve points according to points of minimum intensity in successive image slices, wherein the points of minimum intensity correspond to gaps between the teeth; and
displaying the dissection curve that connects the identified plurality of successive dissection curve points between the teeth.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the geometric primitive is a closed shape that encompasses a view of the first or second object in the volume image.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein displaying the dissection curve comprises displaying the dissection curve in a display of the volume image.
13. A method of generating a dissection curve between a first and a second tooth in a volume image, the method executed at least in part on a computer, comprising:
accessing volume image data of a dental arch of a patient as a set of image slices from a cone beam computed tomography system;
transforming the volume image data to display the dental arch as an unfolded image;
identifying a region of the transformed volume image data that comprises at least the first and second teeth;
defining at least one starting point in a first slice of the volume image data for the dissection curve according to a geometric primitive defined by an operator on a coronal view of the dental arch;
from the at least one starting point, identifying one or more dissection curve points in successive slices of the volume image data, wherein the dissection curve points correspond to image data elements of minimum intensity between the first and second teeth in their respective slices,
forming the dissection curve that connects the identified one or more successive dissection curve points between the teeth; and
displaying the dissection curve with the volume image.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the geometric primitive is a rectangle defined by the operator that encompasses the first or the second object in one view of the volume image.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein defining the at least one starting point comprises determining an edge of the entered geometric primitive.