Authors
Daniel Wagner, daniel@wagner.tzo.net, Institute of Computer Graphics and
Algorithms
Rainer Wegenkittl, rainer.wegenkittl@tiani.com, Tiani Medgraph
Eduard Gröller, groeller@cg.tuwien.ac.at, Institute of Computer Graphics
and Algorithms
Abstract
Virtual endoscopy can be used for preoperative planning, for training and
intraoperatively. Surface rendering displays the inner lumen very well. Volume
rendering has to be used if the external structures are of interest. For certain
applications, e.g. endoluminal biopsy, it is of great advantage to be able to
use both techniques at once. In this work we describe an approach that allows
using these two methods in combination on a low-end standard personal computer.
Since image generation is done in a preprocessing step, any high quality volume
or polygonal rendering technique can be used and mixed together without any
loss in performance at run-time. This work extends a previous image based rendering
system for virtual bronchoscopy to include tracking of a rigid or flexible endoscope
and finding one's way in the tracheal tree by displaying the endoscope's position
in a top-view map of the trachea. Natural landmarks, i.e. bifurcations in the
bronchial tree, are used for registration. Properties of the technique are explored
on a phantom data set.
Keywords
medical visualization, virtual endoscopy, registration, image based rendering