Method and apparatus for generating a three-dimensional model of a region of interest using an imaging system

摘要

A method of generating a three-dimensional representation of a region of interest on a target object in an x-ray imaging system. The method uses a fiducial marker of known geometry. The region of interest and the fiducial marker are imaged in a plurality of predetermined positions. Expected images of the fiducial marker for each predetermined position are calculated and compared to captured images of the fiducial marker at each predetermined position. The difference between expected and captured imaged is used to generate corrected images of the region of interest for each predetermined position and these corrected images are used to generate a three-dimensional model of the region of interest. The method allows for the generation of useful three-dimensional models of a region of interest in an x-ray imaging system without requiring an expensive mechanical positioning system.

主权项

1. A method of generating a three-dimensional representation of a region of interest on a target object, comprising the steps of:
identifying a single fiducial marker having one or more marker elements of predetermined known geometry in a region of interest of the target object or on a moveable surface which is fixed relative to the region of interest; creating a first image of the single fiducial marker and first image of the region of interest by detecting radiation from a radiation source with a detector when the region of interest and single fiducial marker are in a first position relative to the radiation source and the detector is in a first detector position relative to the radiation source; performing the following steps for each of a plurality of desired second positions of the region of interest and single fiducial marker and corresponding desired second detector positions: moving the single fiducial marker and region of interest relative to the radiation source to a second position relative to the radiation source and moving the detector to a second detector position relative to the radiation source; creating a second image of the single fiducial marker and a second image of the region of interest by detecting radiation from the radiation source with the detector when the region of interest and single fiducial marker are in the second position relative to the radiation source and the detector is in the second detector position relative to the radiation source; determining an expected second image of the single fiducial marker for a corresponding desired second position of the region of interest and single fiducial marker and desired second detector position based on the predetermined known geometry of the single fiducial marker; generating corrected second image data for the region of interest by utilizing a comparison of the second image of the single fiducial marker with information relating to the expected second image of the single fiducial marker at the corresponding desired second position to determine an image transform that maps the second image of the single fiducial marker to the expected second image of the single fiducial marker, and applying the image transform to the second image of the region of interest to generate the corrected second image data for the region of interest, the corrected second image data thereby being the image that would have been captured if the second image of the single fiducial marker and of the region of interest were created at the desired second position and desired second detector position; and generating a three-dimensional representation of the region of interest utilizing the first image of the single fiducial marker and of the region of interest, and the corrected second image data for each of the desired second positions.