Displaying three-dimensional medical images

Abstract

Multiple objects having the same physical property within a subject are displayed as distinct three-dimensional images in one or more views. Projection data obtained by scanning the subject with electromagnetic radiation are used to create a spatial distribution of absorption values for the subject that is displayed as an image on an image display unit. The spatial distribution is also stored as a series of voxels representing a three-dimensional image of the subject. Particular spatial regions within the image are defined as objects, with each object comprising a set of voxels. The objects are grouped into one or more views using a set selection panel on the image display unit. A density, gradient and color for each object in a view are determined based on properties input through the a series of object property setting panels on the image display unit. Each object in a particular view is associated with one of the property setting panels. A relationship between degrees of opacity and values for the voxels in an object is defined in the property setting panel for the object and used to determine the density. The density, gradient and color for the objects in a view are stored as a parameter set in memory and optionally, on a non-volatile medium for subsequent retrieval. A volume rendering process applies the data in the parameter sets to the stored voxels to create one or more views of the three-dimensional image. A viewpoint parameter provides a common viewpoint for displaying multiple views simultaneously in different areas of a display.