Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
latter method is particularly useful for visualization of
multimodality data that typically are complementary. A
combined visualization has the potential to provide more
information than the individual data sets. This occurs, for
instance, when one combines a CT image, which can
distinguish the skull from soft tissue, with an MRI image,
which can resolve soft tissues but cannot show the skull
[42, 44, 45]
(
Fig. 6.6-5
).
it would be informative to look at the structures from the
inside, such as in a vascular or bronchial tree or other
tubular structures (
Fig. 6.6-7
). Such types of visualiza-
tion can be called navigation visualization
[55]
because of
their ability to provide necessary visualization for navi-
gating through the internal structures. This class of vi-
sualization techniques became popular because of its
similarity to ''invitroscopic'' systems such as endoscopes,
bronchioscopes, or colonoscopes. In this aspect, these
techniques are close to simulation-type visualization. The
advantage of using navigational visualization on a 3D
volume is that full spatial orientation is known at all
times, unlike real endoscopes or bronchoscopes, where it
Navigational visualization
Generally, visualizing structures from the outside is
useful in understanding the 3D morphology. Sometimes
Figure 6.6-13 Finite element modeling of the electrical activity of the heart and its 3D visualization. Depolarization of the heart with both
normal and abnormal cells, with the abnormal cells having ionic properties similar to those seen in patients with congestive heart failure.
This simulation leads to a sustained reentrant wave of activation. The ECG of this arrhythmia is similar to those seen in CHF patients.
(Images courtesy of Raimond Winslow, Dave Scollan, Prasad Gharnpure, M. Solaiyappan.)
