Patent ID: 8150111
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for processing three-dimensional image data to render an image from a viewpoint within or beyond an occluding region of the image data, the method comprising: at a computing platform including a processor: (a) receiving a 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; (b) casting a plurality of rays from the viewpoint to the surface of interest; (c) along each ray, making an occlusion determination independently from a volume rendering transfer function definition to render voxels within the occluding region as transparent or partially transparent; (d) applying the volume rendering transfer function along a portion of each ray outside of the occluding region to render voxels defining the surface of interest as visible; and (e) displaying the voxels that define the surface of interest from the viewpoint, wherein the voxels within the occluding region are shown in a transparent or partially transparent manner and wherein the voxels that define the surface of interest are shown as visible, wherein applying a transfer function includes applying a first transfer function to render the voxels of the surface of interest as visible and applying a second transfer function different from the first transfer function to render the voxels of the occluding region as transparent or partially transparent.