A real-time volume rendering of left ventricular activity in human heart

In this paper, a real-time volume visualization of the left ventricle (the left chamber of the heart) is presented, according to human digital volumetric data provided. Visualizing the part of heart precisely and volumetrically, the proposed method represents it realistically. For dynamic motion, the method applies a mass-spring model to the muscle contraction, which is caused by excitation of action potential at each part of the muscle. Combining the diffusion of the action potential at each region in the ventricle with the mass-spring model for deformation, the proposed method achieves over 20 fps volume rendering of the situation. The method enables us understand the function of the heartbeat, especially influence of the diffusion of the action potential on the heartbeat. Therefore the method can contribute mainly to the primary and secondary education.