Files and links (1)
PDM V1.0, Open Access
The present invention is directed towards an improved system and method for visualizing and quantifying data associated with biological curvilinear/tubular structures such as the gastrointestinal tract.In the present invention, an electrical field based approach provides a system and method to unravel convoluted biological curvilinear/tubular structures such as the colon. The approach digitally straightens or flatten such structures with curved cross-sections. Electrical charges are simulated along the structure's central path. Each curved cross-section of the colon is defined by electrical force lines due to charges distributed along the colon path, and constructed by directly tracing the force lines. In a further embodiment, the efficiency of the unraveling is improved by directly tracing only representative force lines that originate equiangularly from the current colon path position. The other force lines are interpolated from the traced force lines.