Virtual images of lung structures

This work consisted of the development and implementation of an algorithm by using "C" language that simulates the airway tree and their radiographic images as well as pulmonary arteries. Calculations were made of the branching of these structures, based on the distribution of the flow from the parent to the daughter branches, which were represented geometrically. The algorithm was designed to represent the anatomical variations among the individual ramifications and to simulate the images of the bronchial tree with or without branching and with or without alveolus. One model was adopted to represent the anatomical variations, which considers the morphological dimensions reported on in the literature and it accepts modifications of their parameters until a visual appearance resembling that of a specific anatomy is achieved. The radiographic simulations were based on generic lung tissue and on different radiological techniques. The results showed that the simulated structures and images are similar to the real ones, respecting the contrasts and anatomical particularities.