The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

David Borland

Russell Morton Taylor, Ii

John Clarke

Methods, systems, and computer program products for processing three-dimensional image data to render an image from a viewpoint within or beyond an occluding region of the image data are disclosed. According to one method, a set of three-dimensional image data is accessed. The image data includes image data for a surface of interest and image data for a region occluding the surface of interest from a desired viewpoint. The viewpoint may be within or beyond the occluding region. A plurality of rays is cast from the viewpoint to the surface. Along each ray, an occlusion determination is made independent from a volume rendering transfer function definition to render voxels within the occluding region as transparent or partially transparent. The volume rendering transfer function is applied along a portion of each ray outside of the occluding region to render voxels defining surface of interest as visible. The voxels that define the surface are displayed as visible. The voxels within the occluding region are shown in a transparent or partially transparent manner.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for processing three-dimensional image data to render an image from a viewpoint within or beyond an occluding region of the image data

The invention relates to flexible occlusion rendering, including receiving a first set of three dimensional image data including image data for a surface of interest and image data for a region occluding the surface of interest from a desired viewpoint. The purpose of this invention is to improve occlusion rendering via imaging by locating the occluding surface of the incoming three-dimensional data and, and modifying the characteristics of this data, to show the surface that is being occluded so that the image includes viewing through the occlusion to the surface of interest.

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

David Borland