Efficient methods and apparatus for resampling three dimensional datasets
First Claim
1. A method for rapidly resampling a three-dimensional volume of data to permit efficient interactive viewing and visualization of the data, the method comprising:
- selecting a set of parallel line segments defining a surface having a constant slope in at least one direction and intersecting the three-dimensional volume, wherein selecting a set of parallel line segments comprises the step of clipping ends of the line segments so that the clipped line segments lie wholly within the three-dimensional volume; and
processing the data by resampling the three-dimensional volume of data at points on the parallel line segments to generate a reformatted image of the data, wherein the processing comprises;
selecting a sampling function; and
computing the selected sampling of the data at points along the clipped line segments.
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Abstract
In one form, the present invention is a method for rapidly resampling a three-dimensional volume of data to permit efficient interactive viewing and visualization of the data is provided in which a set of parallel line segments defining a surface having a constant slope in at least one direction and intersecting the three-dimensional volume are selected and the data is processed at points on the parallel line segments to generate a reformatted image of the data. A corresponding apparatus embodiment is provided. Processing of data can proceed quickly because it is not necessary to check the parallel line segments during processing of the points on the segments to determine whether the points are within a given data volume.
48 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for rapidly resampling a three-dimensional volume of data to permit efficient interactive viewing and visualization of the data, the method comprising:
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selecting a set of parallel line segments defining a surface having a constant slope in at least one direction and intersecting the three-dimensional volume, wherein selecting a set of parallel line segments comprises the step of clipping ends of the line segments so that the clipped line segments lie wholly within the three-dimensional volume; and
processing the data by resampling the three-dimensional volume of data at points on the parallel line segments to generate a reformatted image of the data, wherein the processing comprises;
selecting a sampling function; and
computing the selected sampling of the data at points along the clipped line segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
determining a first set of faces of the volume for clipping a first endpoint of each of the line segments and a second set of faces of the volume for clipping a second, opposite endpoint of each of the line segments; and
for each line segment, analyzing the first endpoint of the line segment and the first set of faces to clip at a first clipping point, and analyzing the second endpoint of the line segment and the second set of faces to clip at a second clipping point.
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15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein determining a first set of faces and a second set of faces comprises the step of determining a first set of three faces and a second set of three faces.
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16. A method in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising the step of selecting a baseline segment forming one edge of a sampling region.
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17. A system for rapidly resampling a three-dimensional volume of data for efficient interactive viewing and visualization of the data, said system configured to:
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select a set of parallel line segments defining a surface having a constant slope in at least one direction and intersecting the three-dimensional volume;
clip ends of the parallel line segments so that the clipped line segments lie wholly within the three-dimensional volume;
process the data by resampling the three-dimensional volume of data at points on the parallel line segments to generate a reformatted image of the data;
select a sampling function; and
compute the selected sampling of the data at points along the clipped line segments. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification