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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

An application of visible human database in radiotherapy: tutorial for image guided external radiotherapy (TIGER).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity modulated radiotherapy allow accurate dose delivery on target volumes. Due to the different background among specialists involved in target volume definition, the contouring emerges as one of the most questionable steps in treatment planning procedures. A software tool devoted to contouring training, named tutorial for image guided external radiotherapy ('TIGER'), based on the Visible Human Project images data-set, is described. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TIGER is addressed to facilitate the learning of axial anatomical images, to promote the training and reproducibility in contouring process, to allow the availability of a tool to enhance the 'drill and practice' approach in training programs. TIGER includes three different environments: Anatomic tutorial devoted to facilitate a self-learning approach to axial body sections; Contouring tutorial addressed to practice contouring process of anatomical structures and to undergo a test program prepared by tutors; Teacher's tools to offer to tutors the opportunity to insert new outlines in TIGER-database, according to local needs or conventions, and to use them in tutorial programs. TIGER-database is grouped in six main anatomical sections: head and neck, male thorax, female thorax, abdomen, male pelvis, and female pelvis. Overall 432 corresponding CT-VH images and 1189 contours of 134 different anatomical structures and lymphatic drainage areas are available. The access to the TIGER software is allowed by ESTRO web site (http://www.estro.be). CONCLUSIONS: TIGER provides an interactive human anatomy cross-sectional oriented source to facilitate the interpretation of CT scan images usually contoured in daily practice. It offers a drill tool to facilitate the learning of a reproducible contouring procedure.

Databases as Topic↗
PubMed2000

Simulation of cardiac excitation patterns in a three-dimensional anatomical heart atlas.

Computerized anatomical atlas systems enable interactive investigation of digital body models. Here we present a three-dimensional atlas of the human heart, based on image data provided in the Visible Human Project. This heart atlas consists of multiple kinds of cardiac tissues and offers unlimited possibilities for its visual exploration. A temporal dimension is added to the underlying heart model by simulation of cardiac excitation spreading. For this purpose a second generation cellular automata algorithm is adapted to the excitation kinetics of cardiac tissue. The presented system is shown as a successful method for the visualization-based investigation of cardiac excitation.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1998

Laparoscopic surgery. Transition to the future.

The twenty-first century will usher in a fundamentally new approach to the practice of medicine. It will be based heavily on information technologies, broadly defined as the devices that acquire information; those that process, transmit, and distribute information; and those that use information to provide therapy. Although conventional surgery will continue to have a presence, there will be radically different surgical approaches and technologies that may become the predominant form of surgery. The medical record may become a three-dimensional visual representation of the individual patient (like the Visible Human Project), which can be the vehicle that integrates the entire spectrum of health care. Examples of the technologies and infrastructures that support this new approach to medicine are discussed and illustrated, with emphasis on how technologies improve individual patient care.

Forecasting↗
PubMed1999

Navigation in diagnosis and therapy.

Image-guided navigation for surgery and other therapeutic interventions has grown in importance in recent years. During image-guided navigation a target is detected, localized and characterized for diagnosis and therapy. Thus, images are used to select, plan, guide and evaluate therapy, thereby reducing invasiveness and improving outcomes. A shift from traditional open surgery to less-invasive image-guided surgery will continue to impact the surgical marketplace. Increases in the speed and capacity of computers and computer networks have enabled image-guided interventions. Key elements in image navigation systems are pre-operative 3D imaging (or real-time image acquisition), a graphical display and interactive input devices, such as surgical instruments with light emitting diodes (LEDs). CT and MRI, 3D imaging devices, are commonplace today and 3D images are useful in complex interventions such as radiation oncology and surgery. For example, integrated surgical imaging workstations can be used for frameless stereotaxy during neurosurgical interventions. In addition, imaging systems are being expanded to include decision aids in diagnosis and treatment. Electronic atlases, such as Voxel Man or others derived from the Visible Human Project, combine a set of image data with non-image knowledge such as anatomic labels. Robot assistants and magnetic guidance technology are being developed for minimally invasive surgery and other therapeutic interventions. Major progress is expected at the interface between the disciplines of radiology and surgery where imaging, intervention and informatics converge.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radiometric homogenization of the color cryosection images from the VHP lungs for 3D segmentation of blood vessels.

This work deals with the problem of radiometric inhomogeneities found on the physical color images of the anatomical cryosections from the Visible Human Project (VHP) male body. Our goal is to extract very thin structures, like the blood vessel tree from the lungs. Current segmentation methods applied to VHP color images are disturbed by discontinuous, inter-slice radiometric variations; we thus devised an adaptive correction that is propagated along a series of parallel slices, taking advantage of the structural coherence between consecutive slices. No blurring is introduced, and fine details and texture are respected. Results of 3D segmentation of fine blood vessels on the corrected volume are presented.

Anatomy, Cross-Sectional↗
PubMedDate not supplied

3D shape recovery of a newborn skull using thin-plate splines.

The objective of this paper is to construct a mesh-model of a newborn skull for finite element analysis to study its deformation when subjected to the forces present during labour. The current state of medical imaging technology has reached a level which allows accurate visualisation and shape recovery of biological organs and body-parts. However, a sufficiently large set of medical images cannot always be obtained, often because of practical or ethical reasons, and the requirement to recover the shape of the biological object of interest has to be met by other means. Such is the case for a newborn skull. A method to recover the three-dimensional (3D) shape from (minimum) two orthogonal atlas images of the object of interest and a homologous object is described. This method is based on matching landmarks and curves on the orthogonal images of the object of interest with corresponding landmarks and curves on the homologous or 'master'-object which is fully defined in 3D space. On the basis of this set of corresponding landmarks, a thin-plate spline function can be derived to warp from the 'master'-object space to the 'slave'-object space. This method is applied to recover the 3D shape of a newborn skull. Images from orthogonal view-planes are obtained from an atlas. The homologous object is an adult skull, obtained from CT-images made available by the Visible Human Project. After shape recovery, a mesh-model of the newborn skull is generated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A client/server system for Internet access to biomedical text/image databanks.

Internet access to mixed text/image databanks is finding application in the medical world. An example is a database of medical X-rays and associated data consisting of demographic, socioeconomic, physician's exam, medical laboratory and other information collected as part of a nationwide health survey conducted by the government. Another example is a collection of digitized cryosection images, CT and MR taken of cadavers as part of the National Library of Medicine's Visible Human Project. In both cases, the challenge is to provide access to both the image and the associated text for a wide end user community to create atlases, conduct epidemiological studies, to develop image-specific algorithms for compression, enhancement and other types of image processing, among many other applications. The databanks mentioned above are being created in prototype form. This paper describes the prototype system developed for the archiving of the data and the client software to enable a broad range of end users to access the archive, retrieve text and image data, display the data and manipulate the images. System design considerations include; data organization in a relational database management system with object-oriented extensions; a hierarchical organization of the image data by different resolution levels for different user classes; client design based on common hardware and software platforms incorporating SQL search capability, X Window, Motif and TAE (a development environment supporting rapid prototyping and management of graphic-oriented user interfaces); potential to include ultra high resolution display monitors as a user option; intuitive user interface paradigm for building complex queries; and contrast enhancement, magnification and mensuration tools for better viewing by the user.

Anatomy, Cross-Sectional↗
PubMed2001

Plastinated body slices for verification of magnetic resonance tomography images.

Plastinated body slices provide a higher resolution than photos taken from frozen objects as obtained for the "Visible Human Project". The impregnation with curable polymer gives those slices transparency. Since the thickness of a plastinated slice determines its optical resolution, very thin plastinated slices are necessary for comparison with MRT-images (MRIs) of high quality. The present technical note describes how very thin plastinated slices can be prepared by modification of the classical plastination technique and for comparison with MRI. Having labelled the object's planes recorded as MRIs, we, for the first time, plastinated 800 microm thick body slices superior in resolution to the corresponding MRIs, confirming and extending their structures. Thus, very thin plastinated body slices can be regarded as a helpful tool for radiological studies.

Elbow Joint↗
PubMed1996

Virtual Reality Simulation of Gynecologic Laparoscopy

Realistic virtual simulation of gynecologic laparoscopy would permit the surgeon to practice any procedure, with any degree of pathology, at any time and as many times as necessary to achieve proficiency before attempting it in the operating room. Effective computer simulation requires accurate anatomy, realistic three-dimensional computer graphics, the ability to cut and deform tissue in response to instruments, and an appropriate hardware interface. The Visible Human Project from the National Library of Medicine has made available extremely accurate, three-dimensional, digital data that computer animation companies have begun to transform to three-dimensional graphic images. The problem of tissue deformation and movement is approached by a software package called TELEOS. Hardware consisting of two scissor-grip laparoscopic handles mounted on a sensor can interface with any simulation program to simulate a multiplicity of laparoscopic instruments. The next step will be to combine TELEOS with the three-dimensional anatomy data and configure it for gynecologic surgery.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Lumbar spine visualisation based on kinematic analysis from videofluoroscopic imaging.

Low back pain is a significant problem and its cost is enormous to society. However, diagnosis of the underlying causes remains problematic despite extensive study. Reasons for this arise from the deep-rooted situation of the spine and also from its structural complexity. Clinicians have to mentally convert 2-D image information into a 3-D form to gain a better understanding of structural integrity. Therefore, visualisation and animation may be helpful for understanding, diagnosis and for guiding therapy. Some low back pain originates from mechanical disorders, and study of the spine kinematics may provide an insight into the source of the problem. Digital videofluoroscopy was used in this study to provide 2-D image sequences of the spine in motion, but the images often suffer due to noise, exacerbated by the very low radiation dosage. Thus determining vertebrae position within the image sequence presents a considerable challenge. This paper describes a combination of spine kinematic measurements with a solid model of the human lumbar spine for visualisation of spine motion. Since determination of the spine kinematics provides the foundation and vertebral extraction is at the core, this is discussed in detail. Edge detection is a key feature of segmentation and it is shown that phase congruency performs better than most established methods with the rather low-grade image sequences from fluoroscopy. The Hough transform is then applied to determine the positions of vertebrae in each frame of a motion sequence. In the Hough transform, Fourier descriptors are used to represent the vertebral shapes. The results show that the Hough transform is a very promising technique for vertebral extraction from videofluoroscopic images. A dynamic visualisation package has been developed in order to view the moving lumbar spine from any angle and viewpoint. Wire frame models of the vertebrae were built by using CT images from the Visible Human Project and these models are scaled to match the fluoroscopic image data. For animation, the spinal kinematic data from the motion study is incorporated.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

Macroscopic cryosectioning: a simple new method for producing digital, three-dimensional databases in veterinary anatomy.

Using a new method derived from the 'visible human project' (Spitzer et al., 1996, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 3, 118-130), we were able to establish a simple and low-cost tool which produces high-quality cryosections of macroscopic specimens down to 1-mm slice thickness, based on a milling process. For the first time, a macroscopic cryotome is available to veterinary anatomists, which can be used on cutting faces up to 25 cm high and 50 cm wide and with a minimal slice thickness of 1 mm without any gap. The method employs a modified wood circular saw. Recording of the cutting faces is carried out 'online' by a high-resolution digital camera. The process has been tested extensively and produces high-quality sections of very hard material (teeth) as well as of very soft tissues (brain). It is now possible in veterinary medicine to provide three-dimensional anatomical databases of high resolution and of tissue-specific colour as an additional tool for high-quality two- and three-dimensional anatomical reconstructions for use in science and education.

Anatomy↗
PubMed1998

Advances in three-dimensional diagnostic radiology.

The maturity of current 3D rendering software in combination with recent developments in computer vision techniques enable an exciting range of applications for the visualisation, measurement and interactive manipulation of volumetric data, relevant both for diagnostic imaging and for anatomy. This paper reviews recent work in this area from the Image Sciences Institute at Utrecht University. The processes that yield a useful visual presentation are sequential. After acquisition and before any visualisation, an essential step is to prepare the data properly: this field is known as 'image processing' or 'computer vision' in analogy with the processing in human vision. Examples will be discussed of modern image enhancement and denoising techniques, and the complex process of automatically finding the objects or regions of interest, i.e. segmentation. One of the newer and promising methodologies for image analysis is based on a mathematical analysis of the human (cortical) visual processing: multiscale image analysis. After preprocessing the 3D rendering can be acquired by simulating the 'ray casting' in the computer. New possibilities are presented, such as the integrated visualisation in one image of (accurately registered) datasets of the same patient acquired in different modality scanners. Other examples include colour coding of functional data such as SPECT brain perfusion or functional magnetic resonance (MR) data and even metric data such as skull thickness on the rendered 3D anatomy from MR or computed tomography (CT). Optimal use and perception of 3D visualisation in radiology requires fast display and truly interactive manipulation facilities. Modern and increasingly cheaper workstations ( < $10000) allow this to be a reality. It is now possible to manipulate 3D images of 256 at 15 frames per second interactively, placing virtual reality within reach. The possibilities of modern workstations become increasingly more sophisticated and versatile. Examples presented include the automatic detection of the optimal viewing angle of the neck of aneurysms and the simulation of the design and placement procedure of intra-abdominal aortic stents. Such developments, together with the availability of high-resolution datasets of modern scanners and data such as from the NIH Visible Human project, have a dramatic impact on interactive 3D anatomical atlases.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients from monoenergetic neutrons below 20 MeV based on the VIP-man anatomical model.

A new set of fluence-to-absorbed dose and fluence-to-effective dose conversion coefficients have been calculated for neutrons below 20 MeV using a whole-body anatomical model, VIP-Man, developed from the high-resolution transverse colour photographic images of the National Library of Medicine's Visible Human Project. Organ dose calculations were performed using the Monte Carlo code MCNP for 20 monoenergetic neutron beams between 1 x 10(-9) MeV and 20 MeV under six different irradiation geometries: anterior-posterior, posterior-anterior, right lateral, left lateral, rotational and isotropic. The absorbed dose for 24 major organs and effective dose results based on the realistic VIP-Man are presented and compared with those based on the simplified MIRD-based phantoms reported in the literature. Effective doses from VIP-Man are not significantly different from earlier results for neutrons in the energy range studied. There are, however, remarkable deviations in organ doses due to the anatomical differences between the image-based and the earlier mathematical models.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2001

Specific absorbed fractions from the image-based VIP-Man body model and EGS4-VLSI Monte Carlo code: internal electron emitters.

VIP-Man is a whole-body anatomical model newly developed at Rensselaer from the high-resolution colour images of the National Library of Medicine's Visible Human Project. This paper summarizes the use of VIP-Man and the Monte Carlo method to calculate specific absorbed fractions from internal electron emitters. A specially designed EGS4 user code, named EGS4-VLSI, was developed to use the extremely large number of image data contained in the VIP-Man. Monoenergetic and isotropic electron emitters with energies from 100 keV to 4 MeV are considered to be uniformly distributed in 26 organs. This paper presents, for the first time, results of internal electron exposures based on a realistic whole-body tomographic model. Because VIP-Man has many organs and tissues that were previously not well defined (or not available) in other models, the efforts at Rensselaer and elsewhere bring an unprecedented opportunity to significantly improve the internal dosimetry.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed2005

Dose distribution to spinal structures from intrathecally administered yttrium-90.

Previous treatment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) malignancies by intrathecal administration of (131)I-radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies has led to the assumption that more healthy tissue will be spared when a pure beta-emitter such as (90)Y replaces (131)I. The purpose of this study is to compare and quantitatively evaluate the dose distribution from (90)Y to the CSF space and its surrounding spinal structures to (131)I. A 3D digital phantom of a section of the T-spine was constructed from the visible human project series of images which included the spinal cord, central canal, subarachnoid space, pia mater, arachnoid, dura mater, vertebral bone marrow and intervertebral disc. Monte Carlo N-particle (MCNP4C) was used to model the (90)Y and (131)I radiation distribution. Images of the CSF compartment were convolved with the radiation distribution to determine the dose within the subarachnoid space and surrounding tissues. (90)Y appears to be a suitable radionuclide in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) malignancies when attached to mAb's and the dose distribution would be confined largely within the vertebral foramen. This choice may offer favourable dose improvement to the subarachnoid and surface of spinal cord over (131)I in such an application.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Three-dimensional ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of pelvic anatomy: potential for complications from minimally invasive procedures.

OBJECTIVE: Several new minimally invasive therapies have recently been popularized for both malignant and benign prostate disorders, including interstitial implantation of radioactive seeds and high-radiofrequency wires, cryoablation, transurethral thermotherapy, and laser prostatectomy. Complications can be incurred during the various procedures, often as a result of injury to adjacent anatomic structures. Some of the complications are inadvertent, whereas others are inherent in the particular treatment process. We hope to increase awareness and understanding of some of the potential complications. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Magnetic resonance (MR) and three-dimensional transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) imaging were utilized to illustrate the relevant pelvic anatomy in, respectively, a healthy volunteer and four patients undergoing evaluation for prostate symptoms. In addition, data from the Visible Human dataset (the Visible Human Project is part of the National Library of Medicine 1986 Long-Range Plan) were used. RESULTS: The potential complications relating to urinary sphincter and anal sphincter control, sexual function, pelvic musculature, and pelvic nerve physiology could be explained on the basis of the MR and TRUS findings using cryoablation for illustrative purposes. CONCLUSION: A clear understanding of the relevant anatomy and physiology is essential for the physician to provide patient counseling preoperatively regarding anticipated sequelae and to avoid preventable intraoperative complications related to minimally invasive therapeutic procedures for the prostate.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Conversion coefficients based on the VIP-Man anatomical model and EGS4.

A new set of conversion coefficients from kerma free-in-air to absorbed dose and kerma free-in-air to "effective VIP-Man dose" has been calculated for external monoenergetic photon beams from 10 keV to 10 MeV using an image-based whole-body anatomical model. This model, called VIP-Man, was recently developed at Rensselaer from the high-resolution color images of the National Library of Medicine's Visible Human Project. An EGS4-based Monte Carlo user code, named EGS4-VLSI, was developed to efficiently process the extremely large image data in VIP-Man. Irradiation conditions include anterior-posterior, posterior-anterior, right lateral, left lateral, rotational, and isotropic geometries. Conversion coefficients from this study are compared with those obtained from two mathematical models, ADAM and EVA. "Effective VIP-Man doses" differ from the previously reported effective dose results by 10%-50% for photons between 100 keV and 10 MeV. Discrepancies are more significant at lower energies and for individual organ doses. Since VIP-Man is a realistic model that contains several tissues that were not previously defined well (or not available) in other models, the reported results offer an opportunity to improve the existing dosimetric data and the mathematical models.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗
PubMed2001

Fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients based on the VIP-Man anatomical model and MCNPX code for monoenergetic neutrons above 20 MeV.

A new set of fluence-to-absorbed dose and fluence-to-effective dose conversion coefficients has been calculated for high-energy neutrons using a whole-body anatomical model, VIP-Man, developed from the high-resolution transversal color photographic images of the National Library of Medicine's Visible Human Project. Organ dose calculations were performed using the Monte Carlo code MCNPX for 20 monoenergetic neutron beams between 20 MeV and 10,000 MeV under 6 different irradiation geometries: anterior-posterior, posterior-anterior, left lateral, right lateral, isotropic, and rotational. For neutron Monte Carlo calculations, results based on an image-based whole-body model were not available in the literature. The absorbed dose results for 24 major organs of VIP-Man are presented in the form of tables and selected figures that compare with those based on simplified mathematical phantoms reported in the literature. VIP-Man yields up to 40% larger values of effective dose and many organ doses, thus suggesting that the results reported in the past may not be conservative.

Humans↗