Bartels K A, Bovik A C, Crawford R C, Diller K R, Aggarwal S J
Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas, Austin 78712-1084.
Biomed Sci Instrum. 1993;29:243-50.
An exciting application of using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) to produce solid models of microscopic specimens imaged with a laser scanning confocal microscope is presented. The SLS model, fabricated by sintering together successive layers of a fine powder with a computer controlled scanning laser, is a true 3-D magnification of the microscopic sample. The 3-D models produced are accurate representations of the data and can be handled and manipulated to evaluate surface details and morphology. The models give an extremely powerful method for 3-D data visualization and tactilization. Three dimensional digital image processing is performed on microscopic images to prepare the data for the selective laser sintering process. The image processing techniques for preparing 3-D images of both translucent and opaque specimens for laser sintering are presented. For translucent specimens, the image processing removes noise and "fills in" inclusions and cavities within the specimen data in order to produce a structurally sound model. When imaging an opaque specimen an image of the upper surface alone is acquired. Image processing is used to remove noise and to Fill the volume under the specimen surface. Sample models of a dandelion (Taraxicum officinale Compositae) pollen grain and the surface of a U.S. penny are presented. These models present examples of both the translucent and opaque data types.
介绍了一种利用选择性激光烧结（SLS）制作通过激光扫描共聚焦显微镜成像的微观标本实体模型的令人兴奋的应用。通过计算机控制的扫描激光将细粉的连续层烧结在一起制成的SLS模型，是微观样品的真实三维放大。所制作的三维模型是数据的准确表示，可以进行处理和操作以评估表面细节和形态。这些模型为三维数据可视化和触觉感知提供了一种极其强大的方法。对微观图像进行三维数字图像处理，为选择性激光烧结过程准备数据。介绍了用于为激光烧结制备半透明和不透明标本的三维图像的图像处理技术。对于半透明标本，图像处理去除噪声并“填充”标本数据中的内含物和空洞，以生成结构合理的模型。对不透明标本成像时，仅获取上表面的图像。图像处理用于去除噪声并填充标本表面下方的体积。展示了蒲公英（菊科蒲公英属）花粉粒和美国一分硬币表面的样本模型。这些模型展示了半透明和不透明数据类型的示例。
