A prototype colon straightening system for polyp detection

Early detection and removal of polyps can reduce mortality due to colon cancers. The "fly-through " method in CT colonography has drawbacks. We are developing a prototype colon straightening system so as to provide a paradigm to inspect the colon wall in a "cut-open " fashion. The core component of the system is the straightening module, which models the colon straightening as a solid elastic deformation process with specially designated constraints and boundary conditions. It is demonstrated that the prototype system can retain consistency of surface points\´ spatial relationship and handle geometry with large-degree bendings. Future work is discussed.