Methods, systems and computer program products for analyzing three dimensional data sets obtained from a sample

1. A method of analyzing a plurality of three dimensional data sets obtained from a sample, the method comprising:

aligning first and second volume intensity projection (VIP) images based on at least one landmark in the first and second VIP images, the first and second VIP images being obtained from a first three dimensional data set obtained from the sample at a first time and a second three dimensional data set obtained from the sample at a second time, respectively.

2. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the first VIP image is a two-dimensional surface projection obtained by operating on data values along a direction of the first three dimensional data set; and

wherein the second VIP image is a two-dimensional surface projection obtained by operating on data values along a direction of the second three dimensional data set.

3. The method of claim 2 :

wherein the directions of the first and second three dimensional data sets are axial directions; and

wherein the two-dimensional surface projections are orthogonal to the axial direction.

4. The method of claim 2 :

wherein the directions of the first and second three dimensional data sets are rotated with respect to an axial direction; and

wherein the two-dimensional surface projections are orthogonal to the rotated axial direction.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

obtaining the first VIP image by summing data values along the direction of the first three dimensional data set; and

obtaining the second VIP image by summing data values along the direction of the second three dimensional data set.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

obtaining the first VIP image by summing squares of data values along the direction of the first three dimensional data set; and

obtaining the second VIP image by summing squares of data values along the direction of the second three dimensional data set.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

obtaining the first VIP image by determining a median of data values along the direction of the first three dimensional data set; and

obtaining the second VIP image by determining a median of data values along the direction of the second three dimensional data set.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

obtaining the first VIP image by determining an average of data values along the direction of the first three dimensional data set; and

obtaining the second VIP image by determining an average of data values along the direction of the second three dimensional data set.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising obtaining the first and second VIP images using only data values between pre-determined values.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the data values along the directions of the first and second three dimensional data sets are backscattered reflectivity values.

11. A method of analyzing a plurality of three dimensional data sets obtained from at least one sample, the method comprising:

aligning first and second volume intensity projection (VIP) images based on at least one landmark in the first and second VIP images, the first and second VIP images being obtained from a first three dimensional data set obtained from a sample and a second three dimensional data set obtained from a sample, respectively.

12. The method of claim 11 :

wherein the first VIP image is a two-dimensional surface projection obtained by operating on data values along a direction of the first three dimensional data set; and

wherein the second VIP image is a two-dimensional surface projection obtained by operating on data values along a direction of the second three dimensional data set.

13. The method of claim 12 :

wherein the directions of the first and second three dimensional data sets are axial directions; and

wherein the two-dimensional surface projections are orthogonal to the axial direction.

14. The method of claim 12 :

wherein the directions of the first and second three dimensional data sets are rotated with respect to an axial direction; and

wherein the two-dimensional surface projections are orthogonal to the rotated axial direction.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

obtaining the first VIP image by summing data values along the direction of the first three dimensional data set; and

obtaining the second VIP image by summing data values along the direction of the second three dimensional data set.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

obtaining the first VIP image by summing squares of data values along the direction of the first three dimensional data set; and

obtaining the second VIP image by summing squares of data values along the direction of the second three dimensional data set.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

obtaining the first VIP image by determining a median of data values along the direction of the first three dimensional data set; and

obtaining the second VIP image by determining a median of data values along the direction of the second three dimensional data set.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

obtaining the first VIP image by determining an average of data values along the direction of the first three dimensional data set; and

obtaining the second VIP image by determining an average of data values along the direction of the second three dimensional data set.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising obtaining the first and second VIP images using only data values between pre-determined values.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the data values along the directions of the first and second three dimensional data sets are backscattered reflectivity values.