Integrated visualization of multi-angle bioluminescence imaging and micro CT

Abstract

This paper explores new methods to visualize and fuse multi-2D bioluminescence imaging (BL1) data with structural imaging modalities such as micro CT and MR. A geometric, back-projection-based 3D reconstruction for superficial lesions from multi-2D BL1 data is presented, enabling a coarse estimate of the 3D source envelopes from the multi-2D BL1 data. Also, an intuitive 3D landmark selection is developed to enable fast BLI / CT registration. Three modes of fused BLI / CT visualization were developed: slice visualization, carousel visualization and 3D surface visualization. The added value of the fused visualization is demonstrated in three small-animal experiments, where the sensitivity of BLI to detect cell clusters is combined with anatomical detail from micro-CT imaging.