title: A microcomputer based system for three-dimensional reconstructions from tomographic or histologic sections.
abstract: The reconstructions of three-dimensional (3-D) objects from serial two-dimensional (2-D) images can contribute to the understanding of many biologic structures, from organelles to organs and tissues. The 3-D reconstruction of sections can be divided into several major tasks: image acquisition, alignment of slices, internal object definition, object reconstruction and rotation of the completed image. A fast, versatile, interactive system was devised for the reconstruction of 3-D objects from serial 2-D images using a low-cost microcomputer, original programs and commercial software. The system allows reconstruction from any serial images, e.g., electron micrographs, histologic sections or computed tomograms. A photographic image or a microscopic field is acquired into the computer memory using a video digitizer. Slices are superimposed and aligned to each other using an operator-interactive program. A contour-(edge-) finding algorithm isolates an object of interest from the background image by "subtraction" of the image from an overlaid, slightly shifted identical image. Contours for each slice are input to a reconstruction procedure, which calculates the x, y and z coordinates of every point in a slice and the thickness and number of slices. It then calculates the illumination for every point using a given point source of light and an intensity-fading coefficient. Finally, the points are represented by cubes to provide dimension and reflective surfaces. A cube of appropriate shade and color represents in 2-D the equivalent of a 3-D object; this results in a very effective 3-D image. The reconstruction is rotated by recalculating the positions of every point defining the object and rebuilding the image.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, State University of New York, Buffalo.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aferzon
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Cowan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008838:Microcomputers; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014054:Tomography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed