Three dimensional reconstruction system from TV camera acquired projections for the dynamic evaluation of scoliosis

The system has been developed as a tool to measure in patients the evolution of idiopathic scoliosis during the age of development. The correspondent anatomical segment is treated as a 3D structure, because the interaction of both pathological components and physiological sagittal curvatures determines a well defined location in space for each vertebra involved in the scoliotic curve. The system is based on the acquisition of photographic orthogonal projections, directly from the patient, therefore avoiding X-ray exposure. According to a stack-like scheme, it is possible to obtain all the reconstructed sections, at various height. Various parameters are measured on the sections: in order to discriminate between normal and pathological "scoliotic" sections, the variations of the position of the center of mass and the inertia principal axes appear of importance. Eventually, full 3D capability of the "reconstructed" rib cage, from different points of view, is possible for the clinician.