Robust RANSAC-based blood vessel segmentation

International audienceMany vascular clinical applications require a vessel segmentation process that is able to both extract the centerline and the surface of the blood vessels. However, noise and topology issues (such as kissing vessels) prevent existing algorithms from being able to easily retrieve such a complex system as the brain vasculature. We propose here a new blood vessel tracking algorithm that 1) detect the vessel centerline; 2) provide a local radius estimate; and 3) extracts a dense set of points at the blood vessel surface. This algorithm is based on a RANSAC-based robust fitting of successive cylinders along the vessel. Our method was validated against the Multiple Hypothesis Testing (MHT) algorithm on 10 3DRA patient data of the brain vasculature. Over 30 blood vessels of various sizes were considered for each patient. Our results demonstrated a greater ability of our algorithm to track small, tortuous and touching vessels (96% success rate), compared to MHT (65% success rate). The computed centerline precision was below 1 voxel when compared to MHT. Moreover, our results were obtained with the same set of parameters for all patients and all blood vessels, except for the seed point for each vessel, also necessary for MHT. The proposed algorithm is thereafter able to extract the full intracranial vasculature with little user interaction

Refining the 3D surface of blood vessels from a reduced set of 2D DSA images

International audienceNumerical simulations, such as blood flow or coil deployment in an intra-cranial aneurism, are very sensitive to the boundary conditions given by the surface of the vessel walls. Despite the undisputable high quality of 3D vascular imaging modalities, artifacts and noise still hamper the extraction of this surface with enough accuracy. Previous studies took the a priori that a homogeneous object was considered to make the reconstruction from the Xray images more robust. Here, an active surface approach is described, that does not depend on any particular image similarity criterion and grounds on high speed computation of the criterion derivatives. Mean square error and normalized cross-correlation are used to successfully demonstrate our algorithm on real images acquired on an anthropomorphic phantom. Preliminary results of coil deployment simulation are also given

Towards an Accurate Tracking of Liver Tumors for Augmented Reality in Robotic Assisted Surgery

International audienceThis article introduces a method for tracking the internal structures of the liver during robot-assisted procedures. Vascular network, tumors and cut planes, computed from pre-operative data, can be overlaid onto the laparoscopic view for image-guidance, even in the case of large motion or deformation of the organ. Compared to current methods, our method is able to precisely propagate surface motion to the internal structures. This is made possible by relying on a fast yet accurate biomechanical model of the liver combined with a robust visual tracking approach designed to properly constrain the model. Augmentation results are demonstrated on in-vivo sequences of a human liver during robotic surgery, while quantitative validation is performed on an ex-vivo porcine liver experimentation. Validation results show that our approach gives an accurate surface registration with an error of less than 6mm on the position of the tumor

Testbed for assessing the accuracy of interventional radiology simulations

International audienceThe design of virtual reality simulators, and more specifically those dedicated to surgery training, implies to take into account numerous constraints so that simulators look realistic to trainees and train proper skills for surgical procedures. Among those constraints, the accuracy of the biophysical models remains a very hot topic since parameter estimation and experimental validation often rely on invasive protocols that are obviously not suited for living beings. In the context of Interventional Radiology the procedures involve the navigation of surgical catheter tools inside the vascular network where many contacts, sliding and friction phenomena occur. The simulation of these procedures require complex interaction models between the tools and the blood vessels for which there is no ground truth data available for parametrization and validation. This paper introduces an experimental testbed to address this issue: acquisition devices as well as a data-processing algorithms are used to record the motion of interventional radiology tools in a silicon phantom representing a vascular network. Accuracy and high acquisition rates are the key features of this testbed as it enables to capture dynamic friction of non-smooth dynamics and because it could provide extensive data to improve the accuracy of the mechanical model of the tools and the interaction model between the tools and the blood vessel

Image-guided Simulation of Heterogeneous Tissue Deformation For Augmented Reality during Hepatic Surgery

International audienceThis paper presents a method for real-time augmentation of vas- cular network and tumors during minimally invasive liver surgery. Internal structures computed from pre-operative CT scans can be overlaid onto the laparoscopic view for surgery guidance. Com- pared to state-of-the-art methods, our method uses a real-time biomechanical model to compute a volumetric displacement field from partial three-dimensional liver surface motion. This permits to properly handle the motion of internal structures even in the case of anisotropic or heterogeneous tissues, as it is the case for the liver and many anatomical structures. Real-time augmentation results are presented on in vivo and ex vivo data and illustrate the benefits of such an approach for minimally invasive surgery

Médiation en sciences du numériques : un levier pour comprendre notre quotidien ?

National audiencePour ne pas seulement consommer les produits numériques mais pouvoir les maîtriser et les co-créer, chacun doit développer une culture liée au numérique. Ainsi, s'initier au codage, apprendre et manipuler concrètement des notions comme celle d'information ou d'algorithme, partager les fondements du numérique... sont des actions essentielles. la médiation peut servir de catalyseur, à condition de bien en concevoir l'objet, identifier ses objectifs ainsi que ses moyens. Quoi ? Pourquoi ? Comment ? Ces trois questions fondamentales donnent un cadre initial à la réflexion sur les enjeux scientifiques et sociétaux de la médiation en sciences du numérique aujourd'hui. Quoi ? L'informatique, ou plutôt les Sciences du Numérique, ne sont pas qu'une technologie mais aussi une science à part entière. Pourquoi ? Les Sciences du Numérique ont des connexions extrêmement vastes, allant des objets de la vie quotidienne à de nombreux domaines scientifiques. Mais l'informatique est jeune est mal connue. Comment ? Chercheurs et médiateurs professionnels doivent collaborer et proposer des actions et supports en rupture avec la perception dominante qui est focalisée sur l'usage et la complexité

Réalité augmentée pour la chirurgie minimalement invasive du foie utilisant un modèle biomécanique guidé par l'image

National audienceCet article présente une méthode de réalité augmentée pour la chirurgie minimalement invasive du foie. Le réseau vasculaire et les tumeurs internes reconstruites à partir des données pré-opératoires (IRM ou CT) peuvent ainsi être visualisées dans l'image laparoscopique afin de guider les gestes du chirurgien pendant l'opération. Cette méthode est capable de propager les déformations 3D de la surface du foie à ses structures internes grâce à un modèle biomécanique sous-jacent qui prend en compte l'anisotropie et l'hétérogénéité du tissu hépatique. Des résultats sont montrés sur une vidéo in-vivo d'un foie humain acquise pendant une opération et sur un foie en silicone

Impact of Soft Tissue Heterogeneity on Augmented Reality for Liver Surgery

International audienceThis paper presents a method for real-time augmented reality of internal liver structures during minimally invasive hepatic surgery. Vessels and tumors computed from pre-operative CT scans can be overlaid onto the laparoscopic view for surgery guidance. Compared to current methods, our method is able to locate the in-depth positions of the tumors based on partial three-dimensional liver tissue motion using a real-time biomechanical model. This model permits to properly handle the motion of internal structures even in the case of anisotropic or heterogeneous tissues, as it is the case for the liver and many anatomical structures. Experimentations conducted on phantom liver permits to measure the accuracy of the augmentation while real-time augmentation on in vivo human liver during real surgery shows the benefits of such an approach for minimally invasive surgery

Evaluation of a computer-based simulation for the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms

International audiencePurpose: Endovascular treatment (EVT) of intracranial aneurysms requires highly trained physicians and careful pre-therapeutic evaluation of the aneurysm morphology. A realistic interventional neuroradiology simulator would provide procedural and skill training for either educational purpose or pre-therapeutic simulation in complex cases. This work aims at evaluating the clinical realism of a computer-based simulator for the EVT of aneurysms. Material and Methods: A prototype computer-based EVT simulation system was developed and implemented. A silicon vascular phantom (Elastrat, Geneva, Switzerland) as well as two patient data sets were used for the evaluation. A coil adapted to the aneurysm was deployed under fluoroscopy. Then, a simulation was done with the same, as well as larger and smaller coils under the same viewing incidence and was visually assessed and compared to fluoroscopic images. The maximum of coil pressure onto the aneurysm sac was recorded during all simulations. Results: In all cases, simulation with the correct coil showed a realistic coil behaviour and aneurysm filling. As expected, full and stable coiling of the aneurysm was impossible to simulate with too small coils. Protrusions outside the sac were observed with too large coils. In this latter case, the pressure onto the aneurysm wall dramatically increased as compared with the correct coil. Conclusion: A preliminary evaluation of a computer-based EVT simulation system was made on both phantom and patient data. Our report emphasizes the clinical realism of the simulated deployment of coils, in particular with regard to potential hazards related to an inadequate choice of coil

Image-guided Simulation of Heterogeneous Tissue Deformation For Augmented Reality during Hepatic Surgery

International audienceThis paper presents a method for real-time augmentation of vas- cular network and tumors during minimally invasive liver surgery. Internal structures computed from pre-operative CT scans can be overlaid onto the laparoscopic view for surgery guidance. Com- pared to state-of-the-art methods, our method uses a real-time biomechanical model to compute a volumetric displacement field from partial three-dimensional liver surface motion. This permits to properly handle the motion of internal structures even in the case of anisotropic or heterogeneous tissues, as it is the case for the liver and many anatomical structures. Real-time augmentation results are presented on in vivo and ex vivo data and illustrate the benefits of such an approach for minimally invasive surgery