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Biomedical subjects

Luc Soler

Publications and source records attributed to Luc Soler.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A modular and evolutive component oriented software architecture for patient modeling.

This paper deals with the design aspect of a software aiming at modeling the anatomical and pathological structures of patients from medical images, for diagnosis purposes. In terms of functionalities, it allows to combine image processing algorithms, and to visualize and manipulate 3D models and images. The proposed software uses specific extensible and reusable components and a system managing their combination, thanks to a formal XML-based description of their interfaces. This architecture facilitates the dynamic integration of new functionalities, in particular in terms of image processing algorithms. We describe the structural and behavioral aspects of the proposed reusable component-based architecture. We also discuss the potential of this work for developing other softwares in the field of computer aided surgery.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed2006

An interactive medical image segmentation system based on the optimal management of regions of interest using topological medical knowledge.

This paper presents an original interactive system for efficient medical image segmentation in computer aided diagnosis. The main originality concerns the method used to manage, according to an a priori topological-based structural model, regions of interest (ROIs) within which computations can be constrained. The goal is then to avoid the processing of irrelevant image points, therefore improving and accelerating segmentations. In the case of a hierarchical modeling procedure, our ROI management method enables, for delineating a given medical structure, to optimally determine image points of interest by taking previously segmented structures into account. We propose a mathematical formulation of the method as well as a possible implementation within an interactive system. We also detail an experience report focussing on the segmentation of several abdominal structures from a CT image. It illustrates the behavior and the potential of our method.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2005

Liver registration for the follow-up of hepatic tumors.

In this paper we propose a new two step method to register the liver from two acquisitions. This registration helps experts to make an intra-patient follow-up for hepatic tumors. Firstly, an original and efficient tree matching is applied on different segmentations of the vascular system of a single patient. These vascular systems are segmented from CT-scan images acquired (every six months) during disease treatement, and then modeled as trees. Our method matches common bifurcations and vessels. Secondly, an estimation of liver deformation is computed from the results of the first step. This approach is validated on a large synthetic database containing cases with various deformation and segmentation problems. In each case, after the registration process, the liver recovery is very accurate (around 95%) and the mean localization error for 3D landmarks in liver is small (around 4 mm).

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Optimal trajectories computation within regions of interest for hepatic RFA planning.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation has become a frequently used technique for the treatment of liver cancers, but still remains very difficult to plan. In this paper, we propose a robust method to delineate on the skin of a 3D reconstructed patient the zones that are candidate for an insertion, because they allow a safe access to the tumor without meeting any organ, and to compute automatically within these zones an optimal trajectory minimizing the volume of necrosis covering the tumor.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumors: simulation, planning, and contribution of virtual reality and haptics.

For radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of liver tumors, evaluation of vascular architecture, post-RFA necrosis prediction, and the choice of a suitable needle placement strategy using conventional radiological techniques remain difficult. In an attempt to enhance the safety of RFA, a 3D simulator, treatment planning, and training tool, that simulates the insertion of the needle, the necrosis of the treated area, and proposes an optimal needle placement, has been developed. The 3D scenes are automatically reconstructed from enhanced spiral CT scans. The simulator takes into account the cooling effect of local vessels greater than 3 mm in diameter, making necrosis shapes more realistic. Optimal needle positioning can be automatically generated by the software to produce complete destruction of the tumor, with maximum respect of the healthy liver and of all major structures to avoid. We also studied how the use of virtual reality and haptic devices are valuable to make simulation and training realistic and effective.

Catheter Ablation↗
PubMed2005

Real-time ultrasonography simulator based on 3D CT-scan images.

A new method for real-time simulation of ultrasonography is presented. This method uses directly 3D enhanced helical CT-scan images. The originality of this method is that it can be run directly on real patient data with no need of any pretreatment.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed2004

Three-dimensional virtual cholangioscopy: a reliable tool for the diagnosis of common bile duct stones.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to evaluate the clinical reliability of a new software system employing 3-dimensional (3D) virtual anatomic reconstruction and intraluminal virtual exploration for detection of choledocholithiasis and preoperative visualization of the biliary anatomy. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Virtual reality systems have been proposed for gastroscopy, bronchoscopy, and colonoscopy, as well as for the 3D reconstruction of liver anatomy and hepatic lesions. The impact of these systems in preoperative diagnostics has not been established due to the lack of large clinical series evaluating their reliability. METHODS: From November 2000 to July 2002, all patients presenting to our Institute with suspected choledocholithiasis were prospectively included in the study. All patients underwent conventional magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and either intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The digital data from MRCP were incorporated into an original virtual reality software system to generate a 3D reconstruction. All 3D reconstructions were evaluated by a surgeon and a computer software engineer who were blind to the results of the IOC or ERCP. Sensitivity and specificity were then calculated based on the results of either the IOC or ERCP. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were enrolled in the study. The average time required to reconstruct the images into navigable virtual reality was 7.5 minutes (range, 4-13.5). The 3D virtual cholangioscopy had sensitivity and specificity rates of 71% and 91%, respectively, compared with 61% and 86% of the standard MRCP. CONCLUSION: : The 3D virtual cholangioscopy provides detailed preoperative reconstruction of biliary anatomy and reliable identification of choledocholithiasis with acceptable sensitivity and specificity in a clinical setting. Newer software developments may further enhance its accuracy, so that virtual cholangioscopy might challenge or replace more invasive diagnostic measures in the near future.

Cholangiography↗
PubMed2004

Argonaute 3D: a real-time cooperative medical planning software on DSL network.

Today, diagnosis of cancer and also therapeutic choice imply many specialized practitioners. They are generally located at different places and have to take the best decision as promptly as possible with the difficulty of CT-scan or MRI interpretation. Argonaute 3D is a tool that easily overcomes these issues, thanks to a cooperative solution based on virtual reality. An experimentation, where four practitioners met virtually throughout France, allowed to assess the interest of this solution.

Computer Communication Networks↗