System for the simultaneous display of two or more internal surfaces

Abstract

A dual pipeline architecture for a system for preprocessing image data gathered from such systems as magnetic resonance imaging and computer axial tomography scanners. In one simultaneously operable dual pipeline, normal vectors are computed for each voxel element in accordance with the dividing cubes vector generation system. In another pipeline, circuitry is provided for generating surface identification indicia which are associated with unit normal vectors produced by the former pipeline. Data are supplied to a graphics processor for the production of shaded two-dimensional images representative of three-dimensional surfaces from various view angles. The system is particularly useful in medical diagnostic applications and is particularly useful in planning surgical procedures.