Table of Contents

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Overview.- 1.2 Goals.- 1.3 Scientific Image Computing.- 2 Confocal Imaging of an Acinus.- 2.1 The Imaging Problem in Lung Research.- 2.2 Material and Instrumentation.- 2.3 Prescanning and Definition of a Region of Interest.- 2.4 Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy.- 2.5 A Framework for Scanning Large Volumes in Confocal 3-D Imaging.- 2.6 A 3-D Data Volume Representing a Complete Acinus.- 3 3-D Analysis of a Complete, Highly Resolved Respiratory Unit.- 3.1 Basics of 3-D Analysis.- 3.2 Image Preprocessing.- 3.3 Segmentation and Labeling.- 3.4 An Automated Segmentation Procedure.- 3.5 Quantification of Structural Components.- 3.6 3-D Topology as an Analytical Tool.- 4 3-D Visualization of Microscopic Volumes of Lung.- 4.1 Basics of 3-D Visualization.- 4.2 Types of Volume Rendering.- 4.3 Voxel Attributes and Object Order Rendering.- 4.4 3-D Imaging Meets 3-D Graphics.- 4.5 Stereoscopic Displays and Virtual Reality.- 5 Discussion of 3-D Analysis at Respiratory Units.- 6 Analysis of the Conductive Part of Lung.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Stereoscopic Tracings of Casts.- 6.3 Analysis of Traced Data.- 7 A Computer Lung Modeler.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 A Self-Similar, Asymmetric Model of a Lung Lobe.- 7.3 Scaling and Strahler-Ordering Scheme.- 7.4 Transition in the Bifurcation Pattern.- 7.5 Completing a Graphical Lung Model with Limited Shastics.- 8 Computational Physics Applied to a Bronchial Tree Model.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Scaling of the Computer Lung Model.- 8.3 Dynamics with Breathing.- 8.4 Convection.- 8.5 Resistance and Reynolds Number.- 8.6 Diffusion.- 8.7 Mass Transport Equations.- 8.8 Implementation and Run-Times.- 9 Model Predictions.- 9.1 Convection and Reynolds Numbers.- 9.2 Oxygen and Ozone Mass Transport.- 10 Discussion of Structural Modeling and Functional Simulation.- 10.1 Summary of Morphological Modeling.- 10.2 How Could the Structure of the Bronchial Tree Be Explained?.- 10.3 Functional Predictions.- 10.4 Outlook.- 11 Summary.- References.