Oriented Tensor Reconstruction: Tracing Neural Pathways from Diffusion Tensor MRI

In this paper we develop a new technique for tracing anatomical fibers from 3D tensor fields. The technique extracts salient tensor features using a local regularization technique that allows the algorithm to cross noisy regions and bridge gaps in the data. We applied the method to human brain DT-MRI data and recovered identifiable anatomical structures that correspond to the white matter brain-fiber pathways. The images in this paper are derived from a dataset having 121x88x60 resolution. We were able to recover fibers with less than the voxel size resolution by applying the regularization technique, i.e., using a priori assumptions about fiber smoothness. The regularization procedure is done through a moving least squares filter directly incorporated in the tracing algorithm. CR Categories: I.3.8 [Computing Methodologies]: Computer Graphics—Applications, I.6 [Computing Methodologies]: Simulation and Modeling, J.3 [Computer Application]: Life and Medical Sciences;

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2002
• Where: VISUALIZATION
• Authors: Leonid Zhukov, Alan H. Barr
• Keywords: Local Regularization Technique, Regularization Technique, Salient Tensor Features, Visualization, VISUALIZATION 2002