New fast algorithm for extracting center path
Yanjun Peng, Jiaoying Shi · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2003
It is an important factor for virtual endoscopy to extract center path. We introduce a new fast algorithm being suitable for single branch and multi-branch objects based on distance transform. A section plane including the next center point is found out according to the location relationship among the present center point on center path, object's start point and end point. The distance from inner voxels to boundary surface is computed in section plane, not in 3D space. The voxel point with the local maximum distance value is taken as the next center point, whose distance value in section plane is larger than its neighbors voxels' distance value. The method removing redundant branches on the center path of multi-branch object is also presented to ensure that the center path of single branch object or multi-branch object from start point to end point is unique based on algorithm. Our algorithm is faster and more efficient than other algorithm based on the distance transform.