Interactive Three-Dimensional Visualization System of the Vascular Structure in OCT Retinal Images

Abstract

This paper proposes an automated tool for the 3D visualization of the retinal arterio-venular tree using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images. The methodology takes advantage of different image processing techniques that initially segments the vessel tree and estimates its corresponding calibers. Then, the depths for the entire vessel tree are also calculated. With all this information, the 3D reconstruction of the vessel tree is achieved, interpolating with B-splines all the segments, obtaining a smooth representation that facilitates its inspection. This model allows the visualization and manipulation of the 3D vessel tree by means of graphical affine transformations, including translation, scaling and rotation. Thus, the method offers a complete and comfortable visualization of the 3D real layout of the vasculature that permits to proceed with more reliable diagnostic processes involving the retinal microcirculation analysis.