The invention relates to a method of analyzing an object data set comprising
points in a multi-dimensional space, in which dataset a tubular structure, such
as blood vessels, occurs. The method comprises the following steps:
a) choosing a screen position related to the tubular structure;
b) determining the multi-dimensional co-ordinates of a starting position
associated with said screen position;
c) deriving a plane through said starting position having its normal directed
to the tubular structure;
d) determining a surface point of the tubular structure as a target position
associated with the starting position;
e) selecting a number of points forming part of the surface of the tubular
structure in the vicinity of the target position;
f) determining the surface point in the selection which is closest to the
plane; and
g) using the surface point determined in the step f) as a new starting position.
This method allows accurate and reproducible selection of the starting position.
The invention also relates to a computer program to carry out the method according
to the invention.
