Interactive Importance-Driven Visualization Techniques for Medical Volume Data

In this paper we introduce volume visualization techniques developed with the aim to enhance interactive exploration of medical datasets. We present volumetric lenses which can be applied to a volume dataset to interactively focus regions of interest within these datasets. During rendering the parts of a volume dataset intersecting the lens, which is defined by a convex 3D shape, are rendered using a different visual appearance. The lenses proposed in this paper allow to apply non-photorealistic rendering techniques at interactive frame rates to aid comprehension for medical diagnosis. After briefly explaining how convex focus areas can be defined interactively we will explain the proposed lenses and their implementation in detail. Finally, we will give some performance results and conclude the paper.