Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
PLoS One. 2020 Apr 3;15(4):e0230259. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230259. eCollection 2020.
This paper presents AVATREE, a computational modelling framework that generates Anatomically Valid Airway tree conformations and provides capabilities for simulation of broncho-constriction apparent in obstructive pulmonary conditions. Such conformations are obtained from the personalized 3D geometry generated from computed tomography (CT) data through image segmentation. The patient-specific representation of the bronchial tree structure is extended beyond the visible airway generation depth using a knowledge-based technique built from morphometric studies. Additional functionalities of AVATREE include visualization of spatial probability maps for the airway generations projected on the CT imaging data, and visualization of the airway tree based on local structure properties. Furthermore, the proposed toolbox supports the simulation of broncho-constriction apparent in pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. AVATREE is provided as an open-source toolbox in C++ and is supported by a graphical user interface integrating the modelling functionalities. It can be exploited in studies of gas flow, gas mixing, ventilation patterns and particle deposition in the pulmonary system, with the aim to improve clinical decision making.
本文提出了 AVATREE，这是一个计算建模框架，可生成解剖学有效的气道树构象，并提供模拟阻塞性肺疾病中出现的支气管收缩的功能。这些构象是通过对来自计算机断层扫描 (CT) 数据的 3D 个性化几何形状进行图像分割获得的。通过基于形态学研究构建的知识基础技术，支气管树结构的患者特定表示形式可以扩展到可见气道生成深度之外。AVATREE 的其他功能包括可视化投射到 CT 成像数据上的气道生成的空间概率图，以及基于局部结构特性的气道树可视化。此外，该工具包支持模拟慢性阻塞性肺疾病 (COPD) 和哮喘等肺部疾病中出现的支气管收缩。AVATREE 以 C++ 编写的开源工具箱形式提供，并通过集成建模功能的图形用户界面支持。它可用于研究肺部系统中的气体流动、气体混合、通风模式和颗粒沉积，旨在改善临床决策。
