title: Three-dimensional reconstruction of human limbs from tomographic views.
abstract: The recently developed medical imaging technique of tomography can be used with amazing success to learn about the interior of a human body. Each tomograph, however, is limited to only one section of the specific human limb. A series of tomographs taken at irregular intervals and various angles would provide three-dimensional information of the interior of the limb. Currently available 3-D surface display algorithms have limitations, particularly when applied to clinically important image data requiring fast and flexible interactive analysis. In addition to the problem of computation time is the cost of specialized hardware. A new algorithm has been designed for use with three-dimensional medical images which attempts to overcome these limitations. A computer graphics system is described which reconstructs three-dimensional images from tomographic sectional data. This 3-D surface algorithm can be exploited in planning reconstructive bone surgery. An example which illustrates the versatility and speed of the new algorithm is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Laval University, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bougouss
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002138:Calibration; D003196:Computer Graphics; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*