METHOD FOR GENERATING PERPENDICULAR SYNTHESIZED CROSS-SECTIONAL IMAGES

A method for generating synthesized cross-sectional images perpendicular to a line or curve that approximates the shape of a structure scanned by a non-intrusive cross-sectional image generating device, such as a CT, MR, or ultrasonic scanner. The inventive method involves three basic processes: generation of a set of perpendicular lines along an initial curve that approximates the curvature of the scanned structure; selection from each original scanned image of pixels corresponding to discrete points on each of the generated perpendicular lines; and interpolation between adjacent lines of pixels collected in the second step to generate a complete perpendicular cross-sectional image. The invention permits making a single pass through all axial image data, during which selected pixels for a perpendicular cross-sectional view are collected in a temporary data file for subsequent interpolation for display purposes.