Volumetric image motion-based visualization

• US 8,941,680 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Bobrow, Robert J., Helsinger, Aaron Mark, Walczak, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sams, Michelle L
• Application Number:
  US12/169,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20100007658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,393 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 345/419
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/20 3D [Three Dimensional] animation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2016 Rotation, translation, scaling

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, and methods for displaying volumetric data using motion-based visualization techniques are provided. An apparatus storing computer executable instructions to be executed by a processor, causing the processor to carryout out a method for displaying data with multiple graphical features visually representing portions of the data and to impart motion to a graphical feature relative to a remainder of the volumetric image to highlight the first graphical feature is provided. A method for displaying a volumetric image in which motion is used to highlight a graphical feature visually representing a portion of the volumetric image relative to the remainder of the image is provided. A system for displaying a volumetric image comprising a user interface, a display, a memory for storing graphical data, and a processor that displays a volumetric image with multiple graphical features of the data and imparts motion to a user-identified graphical feature relative to a remainder of the volumetric image to highlight the first graphical feature are provided.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out a method for displaying graphical data, comprising:

receiving graphical data corresponding to a volumetric image of at least one physical object, wherein the graphical data comprises a plurality of 2-dimensional slices;

displaying the volumetric image incorporating a plurality of graphical features visually representing portions of the at least one physical object; and

imparting a first motion to a first of the graphical features relative to a remainder of the volumetric image to highlight the first graphical feature, wherein the first graphical feature is included in two or more of the 2-dimensional slices, and wherein imparting the first motion comprises imparting motion to only portions of the two or more 2-dimensional slices that contain the first graphical feature.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical data corresponds to medical image data.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the volumetric image is obtained from a plurality of image sources.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the medical image data is captured using different imaging techniques.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical data corresponds to security screening data.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical data corresponds to architectural drawing data.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, comprising computer executable instructions for causing the processor to obtain three-dimensional graphical data by analyzing a set of graphical data having at least two dimensions.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein at least one part of the graphical data is received from a different source than used for a remainder of the graphical data.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, comprising computer executable instructions for causing the processor to impart a second motion to a second graphical feature of the volumetric image that is different than the first motion to visually distinguish the two graphical features from one another.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, comprising computer executable instructions for causing the processor to impart a second motion to the entire volumetric image that is different than the first motion to visually distinguish the first graphical feature of the volumetric image from a remainder of the volumetric image when viewed from multiple perspectives.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, comprising computer executable instructions for causing the processor to impart a localized motion to a first part of the first graphical feature of the volumetric image to visually distinguish the first part of the first graphical feature of the volumetric image from a remainder of the volumetric image.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the processor receives an input from a user.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the user input comprises a query.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the user input comprises one of a mouse click and a cursor brush.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, comprising computer executable instructions for causing the processor to identify the first graphical feature by determining bounds of selected subject matter based on the user input.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first graphical feature is volumetrically displayed and represents a portion of the volumetric image.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein imparting motion to only portions of the two or more 2-dimensional slices that contain the first graphical feature comprises imparting motion to a respective portion of each of the two or more 2-dimensional slices that contain the first graphical feature in relation to a remainder of a respective 2-dimensional slice.

18. A method for analyzing data having at least three dimensions comprising:

receiving, by a processor, graphical data corresponding to a volumetric image of at least one physical object for display, wherein the graphical data comprises a plurality of 2-dimensional slices;

displaying, by the processor, the volumetric image incorporating a plurality of graphical features visually representing portions of the at least one physical object;

imparting, by the processor, a first motion to a first of the graphical features relative to a remainder of the volumetric image to highlight the first graphical feature, wherein the first graphical feature is included in two or more of the 2-dimensional slices, and wherein imparting the first motion comprises imparting motion to only portions of the two or more 2-dimensional slices that contain the first graphical feature.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the graphical data corresponds to medical image data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the medical image data is captured using different imaging techniques.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the graphical data corresponds to security screening data.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the graphical data corresponds to architectural drawing data.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising obtaining, by the processor, three-dimensional graphical data by analyzing a set of graphical data having at least two dimensions.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one part of the volumetric image is obtained from a different source than used for a remainder of the volumetric image.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising imparting, by the processor, a second motion on a second graphical feature of the volumetric image that is different than the first motion to visually distinguish the two graphical features from one another.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising imparting, by the processor, a second motion on the entire volumetric image that is different than the first motion to visually distinguish the first graphical feature of the volumetric image from a remainder of the volumetric image when viewed from multiple perspectives.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising imparting, by the processor, a localized motion to a first part of the first graphical feature of the volumetric image to visually distinguish the first part of the first graphical feature of the volumetric image from a remainder of the volumetric image.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving, by the processor, an input from a user.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the user input comprises a query.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the user input comprises one of a mouse click and a cursor brush.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising identifying, by the processor, the first graphical feature by determining bounds of selected subject matter based on the user input.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein the first graphical feature is volumetrically displayed.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein imparting motion to only portions of the two or more 2-dimensional slices that contain the first graphical feature comprises imparting motion to a respective portion of each of the two or more 2-dimensional slices that contain the first graphical feature in relation to a remainder of a respective 2-dimensional slice.

34. A system for displaying a volumetric image comprising:

a user interface;

a display;

a memory for storing graphical data;

a processor configured for;

receiving graphical data corresponding to a volumetric image of at least one physical object, wherein the graphical data comprises a plurality of 2-dimensional slices;

displaying the volumetric image incorporating a plurality of graphical features visually representing portions of at least one physical object;

processing input from the user interface to identify a first of the displayed graphical features; and

imparting a first motion to the first identified graphical feature relative to a remainder of the volumetric image to highlight the first graphical feature, wherein the first graphical feature is included in two or more of the 2-dimensional slices, and wherein imparting the first motion comprises imparting motion to only portions of the two or more 2-dimensional slices that contain the first graphical feature.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a medical imaging device.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein medical image data is obtained from a plurality of medical imaging devices.

37. The system of claim 34, further comprising a security screening device.

38. The system of claim 34, further comprising a device for generating architectural drawings.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is configured for obtaining three-dimensional graphical data by analyzing a set of graphical data having at least two dimensions.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein at least one part of the graphical data is received from a different source than used for a remainder of the graphical data.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is configured for imparting a second motion on a second graphical feature of the volumetric image that is different than the first motion to visually distinguish the two graphical features from one another.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is configured for imparting a second motion on the entire volumetric image that is different than the first motion to visually distinguish the first graphical feature of the volumetric image from a remainder of the volumetric image when viewed from multiple perspectives.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is configured for imparting a localized motion to a first part of the first graphical feature of the volumetric image to visually distinguish the first part of the first graphical feature of the volumetric image from a remainder of the volumetric image.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein the user interface receives an input from a user.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the user input comprises a query.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the user input comprises one of a mouse click and a cursor brush.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is configured for identifying the first graphical feature by determining bounds of selected subject matter based on the user input.

48. The system of claim 34, wherein the first graphical feature is volumetrically displayed.

49. The system of claim 34, wherein imparting motion to only portions of the two or more 2-dimensional slices that contain the first graphical feature comprises imparting motion to a respective portion of each of the two or more 2-dimensional slices that contain the first graphical feature in relation to a remainder of a respective 2-dimensional slice.