Appeal No. 1997-3223
Application 08/228,050
Representative claim 21 is reproduced below:
21. A method of displaying a structure that represents
three-spatial dimensions using a computer, a data base that
includes an image data set in which the structure is defined,
and a display monitor, comprising:
analyzing the image data set with the computer to
determine a set of medial axis points of the structure which
extends through the three-spatial dimensions;
extruding a display data set using the computer, the
display set being a subset of the image data set, by
defining an extrusion vector in the three spatial
dimensions,
defining the display data set data to include data from
the image data set that lies within a set of vectors that are
both (a) parallel to the extrusion vector, and (b) that also
pass through one of the medial axis points;
wherein both of the image data set and the display data
set include data representing three-spatial dimensions, and
generating a display image from the display data set.
The following references are relied on by the examiner:
Tuy et al. (Tuy) 4,882,679 Nov. 21, 1989
Arnold et al. (Arnold) 4,922,915 May 8, 1990
Weng 5,396,890 Mar. 14,
1995
(filed Sept. 30, 1993)
Claims 21-29 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103. As
evidence of obviousness, the examiner relies upon Tuy in view
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