Hybrid model for vascular tree structures

This paper proposes a new representation scheme of the cerebral blood vessels. This model provides information on the semantics of the vascular structure: the topological relationships between vessels and the labeling of vascular accidents such as aneurysms and stenoses. In addition, the model keeps information of the inner surface geometry as well as of the vascular map volume properties, i.e. the tissue density, the blood flow velocity and the vessel wall elasticity. The model can be constructed automatically in a pre-process from a set of segmented MRA images. Its memory requirements are optimized on the basis of the sparseness of the vascular structure. It allows fast queries and efficient traversals and navigations. The visualizations of the vessel surface can be performed at different levels of detail. The direct rendering of the volume is fast because the model provides a natural way to skip over empty data. The paper analyzes the memory requirements of the model along with the costs of the most important operations on it.Postprint (published version

Geometric transformations in octrees using shears

Existent algorithms to perform geometric transformations on octrees can be classified in two families: inverse transformation and address computation ones. Those in the inverse transformation family essentially resample the target octree from the source one, and are able to cope with all the affine transformations. Those in the address computation family only deal with translations, but are commonly accepted as faster than the former ones for they do no intersection tests, but directly calculate the transformed address of each black node in the source tree. This work introduces a new translation algorithm that shows to perform better than previous one when very small displacements are involved. This property is particularly useful in applications such as simulation, robotics or computer animation.Postprint (published version

Enabling collaboration in virtual reality navigators

In this paper we characterize a feature superset for Collaborative Virtual Reality Environments (CVRE), and derive a component framework to transform stand-alone VR navigators into full-fledged multithreaded collaborative environments. The contributions of our approach rely on a cost-effective and extensible technique for loading software components into separate POSIX threads for rendering, user interaction and network communications, and adding a top layer for managing session collaboration. The framework recasts a VR navigator under a distributed peer-to-peer topology for scene and object sharing, using callback hooks for broadcasting remote events and multicamera perspective sharing with avatar interaction. We validate the framework by applying it to our own ALICE VR Navigator. Experimental results show that our approach has good performance in the collaborative inspection of complex models.Postprint (published version

Volume cardiac SPECT image registration

The registration of cardiac images is relevant for the diagnosis of cardiac pathologies. In the case of SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography) datasets, this is difficult because of the low resolution of the images. In this paper we present a new registration method for 3D images with poor resolution. Our method is based on the maximization of the mutual information (MI) using a new interpolation method which significantly improves the result of an MI-based strategy on low resolution images. We also use a different optimization strategy than other MI-based algorithms, typically achieving errors of the order of one pixel. We also discuss experimental results of our method.Postprint (published version

Adaptive transfer functions: improved multiresolution visualization of medical models

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00371-016-1253-9Medical datasets are continuously increasing in size. Although larger models may be available for certain research purposes, in the common clinical practice the models are usually of up to 512x512x2000 voxels. These resolutions exceed the capabilities of conventional GPUs, the ones usually found in the medical doctors’ desktop PCs. Commercial solutions typically reduce the data by downsampling the dataset iteratively until it fits the available target specifications. The data loss reduces the visualization quality and this is not commonly compensated with other actions that might alleviate its effects. In this paper, we propose adaptive transfer functions, an algorithm that improves the transfer function in downsampled multiresolution models so that the quality of renderings is highly improved. The technique is simple and lightweight, and it is suitable, not only to visualize huge models that would not fit in a GPU, but also to render not-so-large models in mobile GPUs, which are less capable than their desktop counterparts. Moreover, it can also be used to accelerate rendering frame rates using lower levels of the multiresolution hierarchy while still maintaining high-quality results in a focus and context approach. We also show an evaluation of these results based on perceptual metrics.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Hybrid Rugosity Mesostructures (HRMs) for fast and accurate rendering of fine haptic detail

The haptic rendering of surface mesostructure (fine relief features) in dense triangle meshes requires special structures, equipment, and high sampling rates for detailed perception of rugged models. Low cost approaches render haptic texture at the expense of fidelity of perception. We propose a faster method for surface haptic rendering using image-based Hybrid Rugosity Mesostructures (HRMs), paired maps with per-face heightfield displacements and normal maps, which are layered on top of a much decimated mesh, effectively adding greater surface detail than actually present in the geometry. The haptic probe’s force response algorithm is modulated using the blended HRM coat to render dense surface features at much lower costs. The proposed method solves typical problems at edge crossings, concave foldings and texture transitions. To prove the wellness of the approach, a usability testbed framework was built to measure and compare experimental results of haptic rendering approaches in a common set of specially devised meshes, HRMs, and performance tests. Trial results of user testing evaluations show the goodness of the proposed HRM technique, rendering accurate 3D surface detail at high sampling rates, deriving useful modeling and perception thresholds for this technique.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Estado del arte de la alineación de imágenes médicas e implementación del algoritmo de alineación clásico basado en la información mutua

La alineación de imágenes cardíacas procedentes de imágenes de medicina nuclear tal como la Tomografía Computerizada por Emisión Única de Positrones (SPECT) constituye un campo de investigación activo dada su importancia en el diagnóstico de cardiopatías. En este reporte presentamos el estado del arte de la alineación de imágenes médicas con énfasis en la alineación de imágenes cardíacas al igual que una aplicación del método de alineación para imágenes SPECT cardíacos usando la información mutua como medida de similitud.Cardiac images registration coming from nuclear medicine like Single Positron Emition Computer Tomography (SPECT) has become an active research field since it is an important tool for the diagnostic of cardiac pathologies. In this report we present the state of the art of medical image registration with emphasis in cardiac images, likewise it is presented an application for registration of SPECT images using mutual information like similarity measure.Postprint (published version

The Hybrid Octree: towards the definition of a multiresolution hybrid framework

The Hybrid Octree (HO) is an octree-based representation scheme for coding in a single model an exact representation of a surface and volume data. The HO is able to efficiently manipulate surface and volume data independently. Moreover, it facilitates the visualization and composition of surface and volume data using graphic hardware. The HO definition and its construction algorithm are provided. Some examples are presented and the goodness of the model is discussed.Postprint (published version

Visualización de grandes volúmenes vía bricking y texturas 3D

This work studies large volume visualization when bricking techniques and 3d texture approaches are combined. The information got for the medical devices is bigger every day and we find problems at the moment of trying to visualize them interactively. Sometimes, volume required memory exceeds gpu capacity and that prevents its visualization. Among the different techniques of volume visualization and specially large volume treatment, we have chosen to implement 3D textures and bricking to evaluate their performance in terms of visual quality and speed of the combination of both techniques. 3D textures are chosen because they take most advantage from GPU than anyother technique, and bricking is chosen because its visualizations is identical to original volumen visualization if it would fit in memory. Provided that we work with medical information we want the visualizations will be exact. We have got encouraging results and they invite us to continuing working.Postprint (published version

Interactive inspection of complex multi-object industrial assemblies

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cad.2016.06.005The use of virtual prototypes and digital models containing thousands of individual objects is commonplace in complex industrial applications like the cooperative design of huge ships. Designers are interested in selecting and editing specific sets of objects during the interactive inspection sessions. This is however not supported by standard visualization systems for huge models. In this paper we discuss in detail the concept of rendering front in multiresolution trees, their properties and the algorithms that construct the hierarchy and efficiently render it, applied to very complex CAD models, so that the model structure and the identities of objects are preserved. We also propose an algorithm for the interactive inspection of huge models which uses a rendering budget and supports selection of individual objects and sets of objects, displacement of the selected objects and real-time collision detection during these displacements. Our solution–based on the analysis of several existing view-dependent visualization schemes–uses a Hybrid Multiresolution Tree that mixes layers of exact geometry, simplified models and impostors, together with a time-critical, view-dependent algorithm and a Constrained Front. The algorithm has been successfully tested in real industrial environments; the models involved are presented and discussed in the paper.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft