Enhancing Slice-based Visualizations of Medical Volume Data

2010

With the introduction of medical scanners, the demand for efficient visualization of scanned data increases. Such visualization is of great importance in many medical applications. In this paper, we first introduce an optimized algorithm for extracting arbitrarily-oriented cross sectional slices from volumetric datasets, which obviously allows for an enhanced view compared to the traditional axis-oriented slice display. This algorithm is then integrated into an augmented reality system that provides enhanced visualization functionalities for the user. Finally, we present a potential application of this system in image-guided surgery by superimposing information, extracted from pre-and intraoperatively scanned patient data, with the optical image.

Computers in Biology and Medicine, 2007

Volume data cutting plays a crucial part in medical image probing, computer assisted diagnosis, virtual surgery, etc. Based on hardwareaccelerated texture-based volume rendering algorithm, the paper proposes a method for volume cutting. With Boolean operations, the method is extended to multi-object clipping and can meet the needs of more complicated clipping applications. Due to hardware acceleration, proposed algorithms achieve interactive display rate and can be used in volume cutting applications such as surgery simulation and so on.

Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering, 2011

Journal of Digital Imaging, 2010

With the increasing availability of high-resolution isotropic three-or four-dimensional medical datasets from sources such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and ultrasound, volumetric image visualization techniques have increased in importance. Over the past two decades, a number of new algorithms and improvements have been developed for practical clinical image display. More recently, further efficiencies have been attained by designing and implementing volumerendering algorithms on graphics processing units (GPUs). In this paper, we review volumetric image visualization pipelines, algorithms, and medical applications. We also illustrate our algorithm implementation and evaluation results, and address the advantages and drawbacks of each algorithm in terms of image quality and efficiency. Within the outlined literature review, we have integrated our research results relating to new visualization, classification, enhancement, and multimodal data dynamic rendering. Finally, we illustrate issues related to modern GPU working pipelines, and their applications in volume visualization domain.

Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, 2007

The 3D volume visualization is to overcome the difficulties of the 2D imaging by using computer technology. A volume visualization approach has been successfully implemented for Surgical Planning System in National Neuroscience Institute (NNI). The system allows surgeons to plan a surgical approach on a set of 2D image slices and process into volume models and visualise them in 3D rapidly and interactively on PC. In our implementation, we have applied it in neurosurgical planning. The surgeon can visualize objects of interest like tumor and surgical path, and verify that the surgical plan avoids the critical features and the planning of the surgical path can thus be optimal.

2018

The proposed device offers virtual slicing of medical images with realistic spatial operation, boosts intuition and interaction, and enables users to view an anatomical target from any angle. The user holds the two handles of a monitor on each side and sweeps it through a virtual human body to view from the desired angle. The monitor is mounted on an encoded counter-balanced arm, which is movable with minimum effort through the human body volume. The encoders trace the position of the monitor which is used to compute the cross-sectional view. Our system generated cross-sectional views as the user moved the monitor within the defined workspace. The computed slices then are visualized on the Graphical User Interface. This device could enhance current digital education and radiology reading techniques by providing a practical and engaging tool to visualize the hidden features of a human body. Widespread adoption of 3D visualization techniques to observe medical images such as MRI scans...

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2005

The capacity and fidelity of image-based diagnosis were extended due to the evolution of medical image acquisition techniques. Such data is usually visualised through volume rendering, which denotes a set of techniques used to present three-dimensional images with the main goal of showing the interior of a volume and enabling the identification of its inner regions and structures. Several tools described in the literature are dedicated to explore different ways of incorporating seeing-through capabilities into volume rendering techniques. However, these tools are based on visualisation algorithms and are usually computationally intensive, especially when working with large datasets. An alternative to optimise rendering time is to use high performance programming to implement such tools, thus providing a faster response to user interaction. This paper presents a new approach to visualise inner structures in medical volume data using a parallel ray casting algorithm to allow user interaction with the volume.

2012

Abstract Mankind is favoured with great amount of information through Information Technology. Consequently, such enormous information requires proper filtering for necessary essentials. With the aid of visualization, medical communities now record many breakthroughs in their diagnosis and radiotherapy treatments.

International Congress Series, 2003

With modern CT scanners, radiologists are facing an ever increasing number of images not possible to review on a slice by slice basis. During the past years, volume rendering has developed to an interesting alternative for reading large medical data volumes. Due to the increasing computer power and the development of dedicated acceleration hardware, it can now be realized as a real-time system with standard personal computers at reasonable costs. However, the specification of transfer functions needed to visualize features of interest is still a difficult task [W. Schroeder, C. Bajaj, G. Kindlmann, H. Pfister, 2000. The Transfer Function Bake-Off. IEEE Visualization Conference]. A fast and simple technique for setting transfer functions is crucial for clinical routine work. We present a novel, interactive graphical user interface to deal with this problem.

2010

Even early versions of our system are expected to have a combination of capabilities not previously found in such displays; its 3-D image resolution will be significantly higher than CRT-based systems; it will have flexible slice positioning, illumination control and complete! y stationary film and project ion components not found in any previous film-based sy~tems. Later systems will also allow the user to modify the image interactively. 1.