Form from function: a vector field based approach to the analysis of CT images of the vascular tree

Abstract

We extract topological and local structural information from x-ray computed tomography (CT) volume images of the vascular tree and present it in a form that facilitates creation of physiological models. Physiologists model the vascular tree as a connected network of tubes and, to date, the only accurate data available to produce such models has come from dissection and measurement. Modeling the dynamic behavior of the tree in a living organism has been, until now, impossible. Building models from CT scans will increase the volume and quality of informution available for both the study of physiology and diagnosis. We present an efJicient, accurate analysis technique for volume images of tube networks. Using local operations, the volume image is transformed into a vectorfield which resembles idealized fluid flow through the tube network. This field provides information to condense the salient features of the image into an augmented Euclidean minimum spanning tree (EMST). This augmented EMSTproves to be an information-rich and logical abstract representation of the vascular tree.