Development of Education and Research Support System for Human Embryology using Three-Dimensional Fetus Image Reconstruction

本研究的目的是开发一个系统，获取胎儿标本的数字数据，从他们重建3D图像，并以各种方式可视化。在第一步（1995年），从显微镜图像采集系统的开发。将显微镜的XY载物台修改为能够旋转，使得在连续切片的重叠显示下快速对准样本图像。第二步（1996年），开发了三维图像可视化系统。不仅可以显示简单的身体和器官的表面图像，而且可以显示与透明身体表面重叠的3D图像器官。可以看到重建的3D图像的任意方向上的虚拟截面图像。这些图像中的一些被拾取并放在WWW服务器上（URL是http：//www.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp/VE/）。选择的图像和电影被记录到VCR磁带，并用于医学生的解剖学讲座。对9例正常人胎儿Carnegie Stage 13 ~ 23的全层图像进行了重建，获得了胎儿的体部、内耳、神经管和心脏的三维图像，并尝试了利用多个实际图像数据合成胎儿生长过程的方法。对困难的分析仍在进行中。该系统基于NIH Image软件，经过几处修改。

This research is aimed for development of a system that acquires digital data of fetus specimen, reconstructs 3D image from them and visualizes in various way.In the first step (1995), image acquisition system from a microscope was developed. The XY-stage of a microscope was modified to be able to rotate, so that a specimen image was aligned rapidly under overlaid display of continuous slices. Comparing with a photograph which was prepared before the fetus had been sliced, those acquired image set were adjusted more precisely.In the second step (1996), the visualization system of 3D image was developed. Not only simple surface image of body and organs but also overlaid 3D image organs with transparent body surface can be displayed. Virtual section image in arbitrary direction of reconstructed 3D image can be viewed. Some of those image were picked up and put on a WWW server (The URL is http : //www.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp/VE/). Selected image and movie were recorded into VCR tape and used in a lecture of anatomy for medical students. The whole slice image were acquired for nine normal human fetus specimen in Carnegie Stage 13 to 23, 3D image of body, inner ear, neural tube and heart are reconstructed.A trial of synthesis of growing process using several actual image data is in a prototype stage yet. Analysis of the difficulties is still undergoing. This system is based on NIH Image software with several modifications.