Application: Camera path-planning in virtual endoscopy

In this chapter, we illustrate the use of geodesic distance transformations in a virtual endoscopy application. First, we describe virtual endoscopy, its potential applications and some of the technical challenges it faces. Secondly, we show how the geodesic distance propagation can be back-tracked to provide the shortest path between two points. This is used to define the optimal path for the camera that flies through the 3D model of the organ. Thirdly, we propose a path centering technique, based on a snake model that smoothes the path while maximizing the distance from the path to edges of the model. Finally, some experimental results are presented.