Thesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005 / This dissertation is the reading and display ofDICOM medical images (Digital
Imaging and Communication in Medicine) and production ofmodel artifacts of
anatomical organs using Rapid Prototyping
An algorithm to read these DICOM medical images was developed. It also
displays pixel information ofthe image. When the DICOM image has been read
and displayed, the information required to produce the anatomical artifact is
extracted. These 2D slice images, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CT
Scan (Computer Tomography) images are written to 3D file in SLC (Slice files)
and STL (Stereolithography File Format) format. A 3D softcopy ofthe anatomical
structure is created. At this stage, the clinician or surgeon can make any changes
or require additional information to be added to the anatomical structure.
With the 3D model available in STL format, a physical artifact is produced using
Rapid Prototyping. The external edge ofthe anatomical structure can be produced
using Rapid Prototyping as well as the outer rim with the internal structures.
To produce the external surface ofthe structure, an outer rim edge detection
algorithm has been developed. This will only extract the external surface ofthe
structure. In addition to the softcopy ofthe structure, multiple organs can be
displayed on the same image and this will give a representation ofthe interaction
ofneighboring organs and structures. This is useful as both the normal anatomy as
well as the infiltration ofthe abnormal pathology can be viewed simultaneously.
One of the major limitations ofdisplaying the information in a 3D image is that
the files are very large. Since 3D STL files use triangles to display the outer
surface ofa structure, a method to reduce the file size and still keep the image
information was developed. The triangle reduction method is a method to display
the 3D information and to decrease the STL file size depending on the complexity
ofthe outer surface ofthe structure.
To ensure that the anatomical model s represented as in the DlCOM files, an
Interpolation Algorithm was developed to reconstruct the outer ofthe model from
2D MRI or CT-Scan images.
A word about computer models: Some of the programs and presentations are
based on the real world. They model the real world and anatomical structures. It is
very important to note that the models are created with software. Obviously a
model is useful if it resembles reality closely, but it is only a prediction about the
model itself. Models are useful because they help to explain why certain things
happen and how interaction takes place. Models provide suggestions for how
structures might look. Computer models provide answers very quickly. These are
computer models representing the real structure. (Czes Kosniowski, 1983)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:cput/oai:localhost:20.500.11838/1149 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Nell, Raymond D |
| Publisher | Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/za/ |
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