PassmoreLab Develops Pioneering 3D Imaging Technology to Aid Medical Diagnostics
New advances in volumetric rendering.
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) December 22, 2007 -- Pushing the envelope of 3D technology yet again, industry leader PassmoreLab announces that it is currently developing sophisticated visualization techniques for volumetric rendering, with special emphasis on medical applications. With its latest endeavor, the southern California-based company continues in defining the role of advanced visual imaging in fields ranging from entertainment to education, research, and science/medicine.
Volumetric rendering is a technique used to display a two-dimensional projection of a three-dimensional discretely sampled data set. A typical 3D data set is a group of 2D slice images acquired by a CT or MRI scanner. Usually these are acquired in a regular pattern (e.g., one slice every millimeter) and usually have a regular number of image pixels in a regular pattern - an example of a regular volumetric grid, with each volume element, or voxel, represented by a single value that is obtained by sampling the immediate area surrounding the voxel. To render a 2D projection of the 3D data set, it is necessary to define a camera in space relative to the volume, as well as identify the opacity and color of every voxel. This is usually accomplished using an RGBA (for red, green, blue, alpha) transfer function that characterizes the RGBA value for every possible voxel value.
Addressing the limitations of the current technology, developers at PassmoreLab have added a variety of 3D processing features that run in 3D volumetric space, which are shown to greatly enhance imaging. These features are specifically designed to leverage curvature, connectivity, and a priori knowledge of anatomical structure as a method of teasing out fine detail from even low-resolution or noisy CT or MRI data. The problem inherent with most scanners is that the visual elements medical professionals want to capture are very close to or even lower than the resolution of the device. As a result, it is difficult and time consuming to extract fine detail from rendered images. The main technological obstacle here is surmounting the Nyquist Theorem, which essentially states that a device must sample at twice the frequency of the item that is to be observed.
PassmoreLab researchers determined that there are some tricks to effectively work around this scanning theory. Currently, the primary tool used to coerce detail out of highly complex data is the transfer function, a complex process that typically makes use of RGBA data only. Taking this process several steps further, PassmoreLab applied extensive research on the use of convolution kernels in combination with segmentation operators and prior knowledge of structure and landmarks, as well as looking at connectivity and curvature factors of individual voxels and how they relate to their neighbors. Subsequent analysis showed that when used together this information provided a much more powerful tool for extracting definitive data. Also, because the process makes use of connectivity and curvature, it is significantly more noise resistant than the simple techniques associated with isolated amplitudes, which are the only data enhancements currently available. So far, the primary focus of these developments at PassmoreLab has been in imaging of the vascular system, an especially complicated area where interpreting detail is difficult. Researchers discovered that, particularly in areas where the vascular system is inter-tangled with bone or in juxtaposition next to soft tissue, they were able to extract detail that would have been previously hidden and very problematic to define.
Although there are certainly many issues remaining before the technology reaches its fullest potential, this is a powerful thrust in the direction of providing more advanced volumetric display of data in less time and with less effort. In undertaking this research and development, PassmoreLab believes it is making an important commitment to helping the medical community better achieve its goal - one where saving time means saving lives.
About PassmoreLab
PassmoreLab started in San Diego, California, in 2003. The company's staff is comprised of programmers and scientific engineers, and also includes graphic artists, videographers, a musical composer, and even a biologist. PassmoreLab facilities include a full studio, video/film post-production, an optical development lab, and a software development environment. PassmoreLab is a firm with staff around the world, with offices in San Diego, South Africa, Sweden, and Russia.
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