Methods and Systems for Stereoscopic Three Dimensional Viewing
A method and system for three dimensional viewing of stereo images of an object or cavity includes using an imaging machine to obtain images representative of either a physical volume or a volumetric set of data. A computing machine can be used to identify image elements within the volumetric set of data by executing a ray tracing function to identify image elements along a path that is directed through the collection of images or sequentially ordered stack of images. The computing machine further applies a weighting function to intensity values related to the identified image elements. The computing machine generates at least one image element value based in part on the identified image elements, and based in part on the results generated from the executing of the ray tracing function and the application of the weighting function. Using the at least one image element value, the computing machine derives a pair of stereo images. Alternatively, the computing machine can select from within a collection of images representative of a physical volume, stereo pairs of images. The stereo pairs of images are displayed on a viewing apparatus.
1 . A method for stereoscopic three dimensional viewing, the method comprising:
retrieving a collection of images representative of a volume;
identifying image elements within the retrieved collection of images;
generating at least one image element value based on the identified image elements;
generating a projection image based in part on the at least one image element value; and
displaying the projection image.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving the collection of images further includes retrieving at least one image.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a projection image further comprises generating a stereo pair of projection images
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying image elements further comprises identifying image elements by executing a ray tracing function to identify image elements along a path passing through the collection of images, the collection of images including a sequentially ordered stack of images.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein applying the ray tracing function further comprises directing the path through the sequentially ordered stack of images via one of a parallel axis, an asymmetric frustrum, a camera toe-in, and a perspective projection.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising applying a weighting function to intensity values related to the identified image elements.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein applying the weighting function further comprises applying a weighting function that performs either of pixel density averaging, depth-weighted averaging and maximum intensity projection.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein generating at least one image element value further comprises generating an image element value associated with the path, the image element value based on results from the execution of the ray tracing function and the application of the weighting function.
9 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising generating a stereo pair of projection images by executing the ray tracing function from two different points of view.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the displayed projection image by stepping through the collection of retrieved images.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting display conditions.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting display conditions further comprises adjusting either of a pixel intensity transfer function, slab thickness, slab location, viewing mode and point of view.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a collection of projection images, each projection image based in part on at least one image element value.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein generating a collection of projection images further comprises generating a collection of stereo pairs of projection images
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising displaying the collection of projection images in a single slice viewing mode.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising displaying the collection of projection images in cine mode.
17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising displaying the collection of projection images in a non-stereo slab viewing mode.
18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
identifying an image slab including images selected from the collection of projection images;
displaying the image slab;
updating the displayed image slab to move through the collection of projection images; and
displaying the updated image slab.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein updating the displayed image slab includes changing the images included in the image slab.
20 . A system for three dimensional viewing, the system comprising:
an imaging machine for:
retrieving a collection of images representative of a volume;
a computing machine, in communication with the imaging machine, that:
identifies image elements within the retrieved collection of images,
generates at least one image element value based on the identified image elements, and
generates a projection image based in part on the at least one image element value; and
a viewing apparatus, in communication with the computing machine, for displaying the projection image.
21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the imaging machine retrieves a collection of images that includes at least one image.
22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the computing machine further generates a stereo pair of projection images.
23 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the computing machine identifies image elements by executing a ray tracing function to identify image elements along a path passing through the collection of images that include a sequentially ordered stack of images.
24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the computing machine directs the path through the sequentially ordered stack of images via one of a parallel axis, an asymmetric frustrum, a camera toe-in, and a perspective projection.
25 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the computing machine applies a weighting function to intensity values related to the identified image elements.
26 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the computing machine applies a weighting function that performs either of pixel density averaging, depth-weighted averaging and maximum intensity projection.
27 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the computing machine generates an image element value associated with the path, the image element value based in part on results generated from the execution of the ray tracing function and the application of the weighting function.
28 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the computing machine generates a first stereo pair of projection images by executing the ray tracing function from two different points of view.
29 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the viewing apparatus updates the displayed projection image by stepping through the collection of retrieved images.
30 . The system of claim 20 , further comprising an input device for adjusting display conditions.
31 . The system of claim 30 , further comprising an input device for adjusting either of a pixel intensity transfer function, slab thickness, slab location, viewing mode and point of view.
32 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the computing machine:
generates image element values based on the identified image elements; and
generates a collection of projection images, each projection image based in part on at least one image element value.
33 . The system of claim 32 , wherein the viewing apparatus displays the collection of projection images in a single slice viewing mode.
34 . The system of claim 32 , wherein the viewing apparatus displays the collection of projection images in cine mode.
35 . The system of claim 32 , wherein the viewing apparatus displays the collection of projection images in a non-stereo slab viewing mode.
36 . The system of claim 32 , further comprising:
a computing machine that:
identifies an image slab including images selected from the collection of projection images, and
updating the displayed image, in response to the viewing apparatus displaying the image slab, slab to move through the collection of projection images; and
a viewing apparatus that displays the updated image slab.
37 . The system of claim 32 wherein the computing machine updates the displayed image slab by changing the images included in the image slab.