Automated 3-D reconstruction of vascular structures from high definition casts

A technique for producing high-contrast images from high-definition casts for use in three-dimensional reconstruction and computer modeling for studying vascular structures is presented. The methodology used for automatic contour tracing, generating a mesh of variable density, and the schemes used to reconstruct bifurcating objects are presented. With this approach. 98 Mbytes of imaging data could be reduced to 180 Kbytes of polygon vertices. and manipulated at near real-time speed on a medium performance graphics workstation. The procedures used to create a high-definition, three-dimensional computer model of any vascular structure are outlined.