Patent ID: 7302092

Claim:
A three-dimensional imaging system for acquiring a succession of two-dimensional images of a target volume represented by an array of pixels and transforming the succession of two-dimensional images directly into a three dimensional image, the system comprising: scanning means to: (i) scan the target volume using an angular scanning technique, and (ii) generate a succession of digitized two-dimensional images thereof representing cross-sections of the target volume on a plurality of planes spaced around an axis of rotation of the scanning means; memory means storing the succession of digitized two-dimensional images and a data set, the data set comprising: (i) calibration parameters defining the geometric relationship between successive digitized two-dimensional images; and (ii) acquisition parameters defining the geometric and orientational relationship between successive digitized two-dimensional images; and transformation means responsive to user selection of a three-dimensional image surface to be displayed, said transformation means receiving the digitized two-dimensional images and the data set, and transforming a portion of the image data within the received two-dimensional images that is necessary to view the selected three-dimensional image surface, wherein the portion that is transformed is less than all of the image data within the received two-dimensional images.