Abstract
Long-range optical coherence tomography has been developed to image the upper airway, obtaining high resolution, cross-sectional images of the hollow structure. The information obtained from the anatomical structure of the airway is important to objectively identify regions of airway obstruction. This paper describes a technique to create 3D reconstructions of the upper airway from LR-OCT images. Herein we outline the necessary steps to generate these 3D models, including image processing techniques, manual tissue segmentation in Mimics, anatomical curvature bending, and the final STL model rendition. These 3D models were used to qualitatively analyze structural changes before and after surgical interventions. The reconstructions could also be used for further computational fluid dynamics analysis.
Highlights
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects up to 3% of children and is characterized by prolonged partial upper airway obstruction and/or intermittent complete obstruction that disrupt normal ventilation during sleep[1,2]
We describe in this paper a novel technique to create 3D reconstructions of the upper airway from long-range optical coherence tomography (LR-OCT) images
We have developed a novel technique to create 3D reconstructions of the upper airway using OCT images from pre- and post-operative pediatric cases
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects up to 3% of children and is characterized by prolonged partial upper airway obstruction and/or intermittent complete obstruction that disrupt normal ventilation during sleep[1,2]. The first-line treatment for OSA is adenotonsillectomy, but the decision to proceed with surgery is based on subjective clinical impressions, most often without any imaging or objective criteria. Imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), x-ray cephalometry, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used to acquire structural information about the airway[3,4,5], but are not routinely ordered due to cost, radiation exposure, and/or need for sedation. We describe in this paper a novel technique to create 3D reconstructions of the upper airway from LR-OCT images These 3D models were used to qualitatively analyze changes before and after pediatric tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy. Modeling the airway is an important step in identifying regions of airway obstruction and may serve as a guide for more individualized clinical decisions
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