KR101714891B1

KR101714891B1 - Vertebra modeling apparatus for 3d printing and method thereof

Info

Publication number: KR101714891B1
Application number: KR1020150116671A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 조명우; 송기혁; 김기범; 하석재; 조용규; 윤호섭
Original assignee: 인하대학교 산학협력단
Priority date: 2015-08-19
Filing date: 2015-08-19
Publication date: 2017-03-23
Also published as: KR20170023244A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing.
The apparatus for vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing according to the present invention includes an image extracting unit for extracting image layers for a bone part by processing a plurality of vertebral bone images taken by CT (computed tomography), and a labeling algorithm for image layers An image processing unit for assigning an index to a closed curve of each layer using the index and dividing the bone region according to the index and a part of the closed curve in which the indexes assigned to the two adjacent layers are overlapped, A controller for determining a part of the closed curve that is not overlapped to be a new entity and analyzing a relationship between all the layers to which the index is assigned and generating 3D modeling data for the analysis result and a format conversion for converting 3D modeling data to a file for 3D printer output .
According to the present invention, 3D modeling data is generated by combining tomographic CT images of a vertebra of a human body, and converted into a file for 3D printing. Thus, a 3D-printed sculpture, Accurate and easy understanding of the spinal state can improve service quality and maximize therapeutic effect.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION [0002] VERTEBRA MODELING APPARATUS FOR 3D PRINTING AND METHOD THEREOF [0003]

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for 3D modeling of a vertebra bone by combining 3D computed tomography (CT) images of a human vertebra bone and 3D printing data The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for vertebra bone modeling.

The human spine is a flexible weight bearing column formed of multiple bones, called the vertebra.

In detail, the human spine consists of thirty-three vertebrae, which can be grouped into five parts (neck, back, waist, buttock and tail). The vertebrae move downward and are generally divided into seven cervical vertebra, twelve thoracic vertebra, five lumbar vertebra, five sacral vertebra, There are dog's coccygeal vertebra.

These connective elements associated with the vertebrae and vertebrae may deviate from their normal form due to erroneous posture or other reasons, resulting in a variety of diseases and conditions that cause pain and disability.

Thus, it is desirable that the vertebrae, which are not in the normal shape, are returned to the normal state by performing the orthopedic treatment, and the vertebral bone condition can be confirmed by CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

However, a photograph or an image photographed through CT or MRI must be accessed through a computer monitor, so that a non-specialist patient has difficulty in accurately understanding his / her spinal state.

Therefore, a method of printing vertebrae of a patient in 3D is needed. In the prior art, Korean Patent Registration No. 1105494 discloses a method of reconstructing a patient-customized three-dimensional human bone model, Dimensional bone model, the actual bone size is calculated from an image, and a plurality of two-dimensional images are projected and transformed into a three-dimensional model. Since they are formed integrally without being formed every bone, There is a limit.

The background of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0048438 (published on May 24, 2005).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for generating 3D modeling data by combining tomographic CT images of a vertebra of a human body, And an apparatus and method for vertebra bone modeling.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing, the apparatus comprising: an image extracting unit for extracting image layers for a bone by processing a plurality of vertebrae images captured by CT (computed tomography) ; An image processing unit for assigning an index to a closed curve of each layer using the labeling algorithm for the image layers and dividing a bone region according to the index; A part of the closed curve in which the indexes given to the two adjacent layers overlap each other is determined as the same entity and a part of the closed curve in which the index does not overlap is judged as a new entity so that the relationship between all the layers And generating 3D modeling data for the analysis result; And a format conversion unit for converting the 3D modeling data into a file for 3D printer output.

In addition, the image extracting unit may extract pixels of the non-bone portion from the plurality of vertebral bone images, extract the bone shape as an image, and extract image layers for the bone portion with reference to the closed curve from the image.

In addition, the controller may sequentially analyze the relationship between two adjacent layers, starting from a layer positioned at the highest level among the layers to which the index is assigned.

In addition, the controller may sequentially analyze repeatedly a portion of the closed curve not determined as the same object in the relationship analysis between the two layers until a portion of the closed curve overlapping the index of the next layer exists.

In addition, the controller may generate the 3D modeling data by reflecting a set value for 3D printing for each of the analyzed plurality of entities.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing, comprising: extracting image layers for a bone by processing a plurality of vertebral bone images photographed by CT (computed tomography); Assigning an index to a closed curve of each layer using the labeling algorithm for the image layers and dividing the bone region according to the index; A part of the closed curve in which the indexes given to the two adjacent layers overlap each other is determined as the same entity and a part of the closed curve in which the index does not overlap is judged as a new entity so that the relationship between all the layers Analyzing; Generating 3D modeling data for the analysis result; And converting the 3D modeling data into a file for 3D printer output.

The apparatus and method for vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing according to the present invention combine CT images obtained by tomography of the vertebrae of a human body to generate 3D modeling data and convert them into a file for 3D printing, 3D printed sculptures allow patients to accurately and easily understand their spinal condition, improving service quality and maximizing treatment effectiveness.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a vertebra bone modeling apparatus for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of a vertebra bone modeling method for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view illustrating a process of preprocessing a CT photographed image in a vertebra bone modeling method for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view of processing the preprocessed image in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing indexes for the closed curve of each layer in the method of vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process of determining the same object in the vertebra bone modeling method for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining a new entity in the vertebra bone modeling method for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a view showing an individual separated by a vertebra bone modeling method for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an apparatus and method for vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the thicknesses of the lines and the sizes of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation.

Further, the terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user, the operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

First, a spinal bone modeling apparatus for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a vertebra bone modeling apparatus for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, the vertebra bone modeling apparatus 100 for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an image extraction unit 110, an image processing unit 120, a control unit 130, and a format conversion unit 140 .

The image extracting unit 110 extracts image layers of a bone by processing a plurality of vertebral bone images obtained by CT (computed tomography) 200.

More specifically, the image extracting unit 110 extracts a bone shape from the extracted images, and extracts a closed curve from the extracted image, To extract the image layers for the bone part.

For example, images of muscles and blood vessels are removed from tomographic images of vertebrae to extract only the bones.

At this time, the plurality of vertebral bone images obtained by the CT 200 are extracted according to the height of the vertebrae, and the extracted plurality of CT images are subjected to the processing of each image It is stored as layers.

The image processing unit 120 assigns an index to a closed curve of each layer using a labeling algorithm for the image layers extracted by the image extracting unit 110 and divides the bone region according to the index .

At this time, the labeling algorithm assigns indices to the inside of the closed curve to display an area separated by the closed curve.

The control unit 130 determines that the portion of the closed curve where the indicators assigned to the two adjacent layers overlap each other (i.e., the same indicator) is the same entity, judges the portion of the closed curve where the indicators do not overlap as a new entity, Analyzes the relationships among all granted layers, and generates 3D modeling data for the analysis results.

At this time, the controller 130 sequentially analyzes the relationship between the two adjacent layers, starting from the layer positioned at the top of the layers to which the index is assigned, and determines the closed curve Is repeatedly analyzed repeatedly until a portion of the closed curve overlaps with the index of the next layer.

Then, 3D modeling data is generated by outputting the 3D coordinates using the plane coordinates of the layer separated by one object and the known height value of each layer with reference to the analysis result.

Also, the controller 130 may generate 3D modeling data by reflecting setting values for 3D printing for each of the analyzed plurality of objects.

Here, the set value is a margin value for 3D printing for the separated object, and it is converted into a z-axis 2D cross-section layer for each object, the offset is applied to the vertical direction of the curve of each cross-section, And then converting them into an object of interest.

The format conversion unit 140 converts the 3D modeling data generated by the control unit 130 into a 3D printer output file.

Details are converted into STL FILE (STEREO LITHOGRAPHIC FILE), which is a file format for storing 3D modeling data in a standard format file.

In other words, the file format that enables the output of the file stored in the 3D graphics software to the 3D printer is the STL format.

Hereinafter, a vertebra bone modeling method for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of a vertebra bone modeling method for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a specific operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

According to the modeling method using the vertebra bone modeling apparatus 100 for 3D printing according to the embodiment of the present invention, the image extracting unit 110 extracts a plurality of vertebrae The image is processed to extract image layers for the bone part (S210).

3 is a view illustrating a process of preprocessing a CT photographed image in the method of vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a view of processing a preprocessed image in FIG.

That is, in step S210, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of vertebral bone images are divided into bones and non-bones, and pixels of non-bones are removed to extract a bone shape as an image. From the extracted image, the image layers for the bone part are extracted based on the closed curve.

3, a plurality of CT images are extracted from the plurality of vertebral bone images according to the height of the vertebrae, and the extracted plurality of CT images are processed by the image extracting unit 110 And are stored as respective image layers according to the process.

Next, the image processing unit 120 provides indexes for the closed curve of each layer using the labeling algorithm for the image layers extracted in step S210 (S220) (S230).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing indexes for the closed curve of each layer in the method of vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the labeling algorithm assigns an index to a closed curve to display an area separated by a closed curve.

That is, when there are a plurality of closed curves in one layer, the same index is given to one closed curve so that each closed curve is divided.

Then, the control unit 130 judges that the portions of the closed curve where the indicators assigned to the two adjacent layers overlap (i.e., the same indicator) are the same object, and judge the portion of the closed curve where the indicators do not overlap as a new object And analyzes the relationship between all the layers to which the indicator is assigned (S240).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining a same object in the method of vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of modeling vertebrae for 3D printing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. And judging it as an entity.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a part of the closed curve where the indicators given to the adjacent two layers (Ki and Kj) are overlapped is judged as one object, and two adjacent layers (Kr and Ks ) Are judged to be different from each other.

Step S240 will be described in more detail with reference to Tables 1 to 4 below, which are tabulated with indices assigned to the respective layers (k-1, k, k + 1).

k-1 One One One One 2 2 k One One One 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 k + 1

k-1 One One One One One One k One One One One One One 3 3 3 4 4 4 k + 1

k-1 One One One One One One k One One One One One One One One One 2 2 2 k + 1 One One One One 2 2 2 2

As a result of analyzing two neighboring layers (k-1, k) in Table 1, the second area of the layer k overlaps with the first area of the layer k-1, And the second area of the layer k-1 overlapped with the second area is also changed to the first area.

When the analysis of these two layers (k-1, k) is completed, the next two neighboring layers (k, k + 1) are analyzed as shown in Table 3, Is overlapped with the areas 1 and 3 of the layer k, and the area 2 of the layer k + 1 is overlapped with the area 4 of the layer k. Therefore, the area 3 of the layer k is changed to the area 1 as shown in Table 4 The fourth region is changed to the second region, and finally, the second region is classified into the first region and the second region.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an individual separated by a vertebra bone modeling method for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In addition, the control unit 130 sequentially analyzes the relationship between two adjacent layers, starting from the layer positioned at the highest level among the layers to which the index is assigned, and determines a closed curve Is repeatedly analyzed repeatedly until a portion of the closed curve overlaps with the index of the next layer.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the entire vertebral bone shape is classified as an individual for different bones.

Then, the controller 130 generates 3D modeling data for the analysis result in step S240 (S250).

More specifically, 3D modeling data is generated by outputting 3D coordinates using plane coordinates of a layer divided into one object and known height values of each layer with reference to the analysis result in step S240.

Then, the format conversion unit 140 converts the 3D modeling data generated in operation S250 into a 3D printer output file (S260).

As described above, an apparatus and method for vertebra bone modeling for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention combines CT images obtained by tomography of the vertebrae of a human body to generate 3D modeling data and convert the data into a file for 3D printing, 3D-printed sculptures in the same shape as your spine bones can help your patients to understand your spine condition accurately and easily, thus improving service quality and maximizing treatment effectiveness.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. will be. Accordingly, the true scope of the present invention should be determined by the following claims.

110: image extracting unit 120: image processing unit
130: control unit 140: format conversion unit
200: CT

Claims

An image extracting unit for extracting image layers for a bone by processing a plurality of vertebral bone images photographed by computed tomography (CT);
An image processing unit for assigning an index to a closed curve of each layer using the labeling algorithm for the image layers and dividing a bone region according to the index;
The relationship between the two adjacent layers is sequentially analyzed starting from the layer positioned at the uppermost position among the layers to which the index is assigned and a part of the closed curve in which the index assigned to each of two adjacent layers is overlapped is regarded as the same object Determining a portion of the closed curve where the index does not overlap with a new entity and analyzing a relationship between all the layers to which the index is assigned, Analyzing the 3D modeling data sequentially and repeatedly until a portion of the closed curve overlapping the index of the next layer exists, and generating 3D modeling data on the analysis result; And
And a format converter for converting the 3D modeling data into STL FILE (STEREO LITHOGRAPHIC FILE).

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the image extracting unit comprises:
And extracting a bone shape as an image by removing pixels of a non-bone part from the plurality of vertebra bone images, and extracting image layers for the bone part with reference to a closed curve from the image.

delete

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
And generating the 3D modeling data by reflecting setting values for 3D printing for each of the analyzed plurality of objects.

A modeling method using a vertebra bone modeling apparatus for 3D printing,
Processing a plurality of vertebral bone images photographed by CT (computed tomography) to extract image layers for a bone part;
Assigning an index to a closed curve of each layer using the labeling algorithm for the image layers and dividing the bone region according to the index;
The relationship between the two adjacent layers is sequentially analyzed starting from the layer positioned at the highest position among the layers to which the index is assigned and the portion of the closed curve in which the index assigned to the adjacent two layers are overlapped is judged as the same entity A part of the closed curve where the index is not overlapped is regarded as a new entity and the relationship between all the layers to which the index is given is analyzed. In the relation analysis between the two layers, Repeating the analysis sequentially until there is a part of the closed curve overlapped with the index of the next layer;
Generating 3D modeling data for the analysis result; And
And transforming the 3D modeling data into STL FILE (STEREO LITHOGRAPHIC FILE).

The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the extracting of the image layers comprises:
And extracting a bone shape as an image by removing pixels of a non-bone portion from the plurality of vertebral bone images, and extracting image layers for the bone portion with reference to a closed curve from the image.

delete

The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the step of generating the 3D modeling data comprises:
And generating the 3D modeling data by reflecting setting values for 3D printing for each of the analyzed plurality of objects.