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Title
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Autonomous virtual mobile robot for three-dimensional medical image exploration: Application to micro-CT cochlear images
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Author
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Abstract
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| Objective: In this paper, we present an autonomous virtual mobile robot (AVMR) for three-dimensional (3D) exploration of unknown tubular-like structures in 3D images. Methods and materials: The trajectory planning for 3D central navigation is achieved by combining two neuro-fuzzy controllers, and is based on 3D sensory information; a Hough transform is used to locally fit a cylinder during the exploration, estimating the local radius of the tube. Nonholonomic constraints are applied to assure a smooth, continuous and unique final path. When applied to 3D medical images, the AVMR operates as a virtual endoscope, directly providing anatomical measurements of the organ. After a thorough validation on challenging synthetic environments, we applied our method to eight micro-CT datasets of cochleae. Results: Validation on synthetic environments proved the robustness of our method, and highlighted key parameters for the design of the AVMR. When applied to the micro-CT datasets, the AVMR automatically estimated length and radius of the cochleae: results were compared to manual. delineations, proving the accuracy of our approach. Conclusions: The AVMR presents several advantages when used as a virtual endoscope: the nonholonomic constraint guarantees a unique and smooth central path, which can be reliably used both for qualitative and quantitative investigation of 3D medical datasets. Results on the micro-CT cochleae are a significant step towards the validation of more clinical computed tomography (CT) studies. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Artificial intelligence in medicine. - Tecklenburg
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Publication
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Tecklenburg
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2008
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ISSN
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0933-3657
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DOI
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10.1016/J.ARTMED.2008.03.004
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Volume/pages
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43
:1
(2008)
, p. 1-15
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ISI
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000256327300001
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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