title: Real time computation and temporal coherence of opacity transfer functions for direct volume rendering of ultrasound data.
abstract: Opacity transfer function (OTF) generation for direct volume rendering of medical image data is an intensely discussed subject. Several automatic methods exist for CT and MRI data, which are not apt for ultrasound data, mainly due to its low signal-to-noise ratio. Furthermore, ultrasound (US) imaging is able to produce time-varying 3D datasets in real time thus opening the door to 4D visualization. However, OTF design for 4D datasets has not been exhaustively discussed until now. We present an efficient solution to generate an optimized OTF for a given 3DUS dataset in real time. Our method results in excellent visualization which we demonstrate using 3D fetus datasets. Finally, we discuss the applicability of our method to 4DUS visualization.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Computer Vision GmbH (ACV), Tech Gate Vienna, Donau-City-Strasse 1, A-1220 Vienna, Austria. bernhard.petersch@acv.ac.at
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petersch
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadwiger
authors.forename: Helwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hönigmann
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*