True volume visualization of medical data

Abstract

A volume image understanding workstation is under development for processing and displaying a variety of medical 3D data types. The hardware consists of symbolic and multiple numeric processors, binocular stereoscopic display, unique direct 3D pointer, voice input and output and other 3D support tools. Volumetric software consists of a volume window manager, Mayo Clinics' Analyze program, and the Digital Stereo Microscope algorithms that allow discrete 3D data to be examined in much the same way an optical stereo microscope is used to examine transparent real samples. The perception of medical 3D data has received little attention and psychophysical studies are planned that will examine the investigators ability to resolve detail in 3D space.