US Patent 8045769 Planar angular visualization of the bronchial tree

A system (20) an image acquisition device, an image workstation, computer-readable medium and method for visualizing an anatomical tree structure is disclosed. The anatomical tree structure is segmented from a three-dimensional image set of at least a portion of a body. A planar angular visualization of the anatomical tree structure is then determined. The planar angular visualization of the anatomical tree structure is then displayed. Since the displayed anatomical tree structure has no occlusions or intersections of segments, the anatomical tree is much easier to read which facilitates subsequent automated or manual diagnosis of the tree for anomalies.