Evaluation of three pose estimation algorithms for model-based Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis

Model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) uses a three-dimensional surface model of an implant in order to estimate accurately the pose of that implant from a stereo pair of roentgen images. The technique is based on minimization of the difference between the actually projected contour of an implant and the virtually projected contour of a model of that same implant. The advantage of model-based RSA over conventional marker-based RSA is that it is not necessary to attach markers to the implant. In this paper, three pose estimation algorithms for model-based RSA are evaluated. The algorithms were assessed on the basis of their sensitivities to noise in the actual contour, to the amount of drop-outs in the actual contour, to the number of points in the actual contour and to shrinkage or expansion of the actual contour. The algorithms that were studied are the iterative inverse perspective matching (IIPM) algorithm, an algorithm based on minimization of the difference (DIF) between the actual contour and the virtual contour, and an algorithm based on minimization of the non-overlapping area (NOA) between the actual and virtual contour. The results of the simulation and phantom experiments show that the NOA algorithm does not fulfil the high accuracy that is necessary for model-based RSA. The IIPM and DIF algorithms are robust to the different distortions, making model-based RSA a possible replacement for marker-based RSA.