3D surface profiling using arbitrarily positioned cameras

3D surface measurements are important for studying the biomechanical properties of deformable tissues. For 3D surface profiling and reconstruction, corresponding points on an object should be matched in different camera views. This process is traditionally performed in systems that use stereo camera pairs or multiple cameras with aligned optical axes. To measure the deformation in soft tissues, it may be more appropriate to arbitrarily position the cameras. For instance, cameras can be placed to overcome obstructions that may be caused by measurement apparatus, such as a surface indenter. A truly arbitrary placement system requires the development of a new algorithm for finding corresponding points during surface reconstruction, as existing methods cannot handle large incompatibilities due to the perspective effects between rotated camera views. In this study, we have proposed a procedure for feature matching that can be used with arbitrarily positioned cameras. This proposed method is then used to generate a 3D surface profile of a silicone gel phantom.