Three-Dimensional Display from Cross-Sectional Tomographic Images: An Application to Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A system has been developed to facilitate three-dimensional visualizations of tomographic image data. Tomographic techniques yield parallel planes of data at discrete locations; thus, a series of images comprises a three-dimensional database. From this database, a system has been developed to perform three-dimensional calculations, measurements, and display. The system consists of a conventional two-dimensional video monitor, a digitizing tablet for user interaction and region-of-interest (ROI) definition, application-oriented computational software, and an image display system for true three-dimensional database visualization. The three-dimensional display makes use of a varifocal mirror system with vector graphics capability. Through the use of specialized contouring software, we illustrate the utility of this system in the specific examples of displays prepared from magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain and carotid arteries. It can be concluded that this system will provide valuable diagnostic and physiologic information that will provide added insight into normal and abnormal structure and its relationship to function.