Method, system and apparatus for surface rendering using medical imaging data

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for surface rendering using medical imaging data is provided. A display device is controlled to render a first model of imaging data showing depth positions corresponding to a given surface threshold value, and further controlled to replace the first model with a second model of the imaging data showing respective depth positions corresponding to the given surface threshold value, the second model being faster to compute than the first model. The given surface threshold value is changed to an updated surface threshold value, for example using a slider input. The display device updates rendering of the second model to show updated respective depth positions corresponding to the updated surface threshold value. When an acceptance is received, the display device is controlled to replace the second model with the first model showing updated depth positions corresponding to the updated surface threshold value.

1 . A device for planning surgery using three-dimensional (3D) medical imaging data of an object, the device comprising:
 a controller configured to:
 control a display device to render a first model of the 3D medical imaging data showing depth positions corresponding to a given surface threshold value; 
 control the display device to render a second model of the 3D medical imaging data showing respective depth positions corresponding to the given surface threshold value, wherein the second model is faster to compute than the first model, and the second model replaces the first model at the display device and is otherwise aligned with the first model with respect to one or more of a position and angle; 
 control the display device to update rendering of the second model to show updated respective depth positions corresponding to an updated surface threshold value different from the given surface threshold value; 
 control the display device to replace the second model with the first model showing updated depth positions corresponding to the updated surface threshold value, and wherein the first model showing the updated depth positions is otherwise aligned with the first model, as originally rendered, with respect to one or more of a position and angle; and 
 provide one or more markers at one or more of the updated depth positions to assist with planning the surgery. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first model comprises a mesh model. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second model comprises a ray-casting model. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the updated surface threshold value is received via an input device. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second model has not been refined as compared with the first model. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the given surface threshold value corresponds to an estimate of a skin surface or a brain surface of the object. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to exchange the given surface threshold value and the updated surface threshold value between the first model and the second model. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to change the given surface threshold value to the updated surface threshold value using a slider rendered at the display device. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the 3D medical imaging data is selected from a list comprising of computed tomography (CT) imaging data, positron emissions tomography (PET) imaging data, and 3D surface scanner imaging data. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the 3D medical imaging data comprises magnetic resonance imaging data, and the given surface threshold value and the updated surface threshold value each comprises a respective magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity value. 
     
     
         11 . A method for planning surgery using three-dimensional (3D) medical imaging data of an object, the method comprising:
 controlling, using a computing device, a display device to render a first model of the 3D medical imaging data showing depth positions corresponding to a given surface threshold value;   controlling, using the computing device, the display device to render a second model of the 3D medical imaging data showing respective depth positions corresponding to the given surface threshold value, wherein the second model is faster to compute than the first model, and the second model replaces the first model at the display device and is otherwise aligned with the first model with respect to one or more of a position and angle;   controlling, using the computing device, the display device to update rendering of the second model to show updated respective depth positions corresponding to an updated surface threshold value different from the given surface threshold value;   controlling, using the computing device, the display device to replace the second model with the first model showing updated depth positions corresponding to the updated surface threshold value, and wherein the first model showing the updated depth positions is otherwise aligned with the first model, as originally rendered, with respect to one or more of a position and angle; and   providing, using the computing device, one or more markers at one or more of the updated depth positions to assist with planning the surgery.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first model comprises a mesh model, and the second model comprises a ray-casting model. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the updated surface threshold value is received via an input device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second model has not been refined as compared with the first model. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the given surface threshold value corresponds to an estimate of a skin surface or a brain surface of the object. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising exchanging the given surface threshold value and the updated surface threshold value between the first model and the second model. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising changing the given surface threshold value to the updated surface threshold value via a slider rendered at the display device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the 3D medical imaging data is selected from a list comprising of computed tomography (CT) imaging data, positron emissions tomography (PET) imaging data, and 3D surface scanner imaging data. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the 3D medical imaging data comprises magnetic resonance imaging data, and the given surface threshold value and the updated surface threshold value each comprise a respective magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity value.