A 3-D visualization method for non-enhanced fresh blood imaging on MR imaging employing A 3-D region growing technique

Recently, the disease caused by arteriosclerosis increases rapidly. Especially, the one that originates in hands and feet´s peripheral arterial is called arteriosclerosis obliterans. To diagnose the arteriosclerosis obliterans, magnetic resonance imaging equipment is applied as a useful visual screening on medical field. Especially, non-enhanced fresh blood imaging method is developed to avoiding adverse reactions from the contrast medium. In this research, we develop a 3-D visualization method for analyzing the internal structure such as blood vessels in the lower limbs area. In this technique, we propose a technique for extracting the blood vessels region by using a region growing method which obtained from the maximum intensity projection image. This technique was applied to four non-enhanced fresh bloods imaging of magnetic resonance images, and satisfactory 3D blood vessel region was extracted. Some experimental results are shown with discussion.