Reconstruction and Representation of Tubular Structures using Simplex Meshes

Modelling and reconstruction of tubular objects is a known problem in computer graphics. For computer aided surgical planning the constructed geometrical models need to be consistent and compact at the same time, which known approaches cannot guarantee. In this paper we present a new method for generating compact, topologically consistent, 2-manifold surfaces of branching tubular objects using a two-stage approach. The proposed method is based on connection of polygonal cross-sections along the medial axis and subsequent refinement. Higher order furcations can be handled correctly.