A Volumetric Projection Display for Medical Applications

描述(由申请人提供)： 在这个项目中，Dimension Technologies Inc.(DTI)建议研究一种新型的体积显示器，这种显示器可以创建非常小(一侧约2厘米)的3D图像，然后将它们投影到非常大的尺寸(一侧约1米或更大)。投影的图像将是真正的充满空间的3D光学图像，可以从连续的视差变化和重合的焦点和固定点的大范围内观看。初始图像是在非常小的空间中创建的，这一事实将极大地简化用于创建图像的光学和机电子系统。这将产生比当前体积显示器中的组件更便宜和更坚固的组件，并能够以比当前体积显示器大得多的尺寸创建图像。这最终应该会转化为更大的3D显示器，成本更低。在第一阶段的工作中，DTI将调查与建议的显示概念相关的关键组件和设计问题，测量关键组件的光学和机械性能，构建工作台模型以进一步测试该概念，并确定建议的技术将提供显著优势的一个或多个特定的医学可视化应用。 3D图像用于解释复杂的CAT、NMRI和超声扫描，用于诊断和外科手术计划，以及在医学教育和培训中的使用，这一点已经得到很好的证实。以真正的三维形式显示图像，通过增强用户解释特征、形状和距离以及看穿杂乱的能力，促进了对图像的更准确和无错误的解释。体积显示器是显示此类图像的理想选择，因为它们不会妨碍操作员佩戴头盔。除了各种医疗应用外，这种显示器还将广泛用于地形建模、模拟、协作环境、科学可视化、CAD、广告和娱乐，包括街机游戏。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): During this program Dimension Technologies Inc. (DTI) proposes to investigate a new type of volumetric display that can create very small (on the order of 2 cm on a side) 3D images and then project them to very large sizes (on the order of 1 m on a side or more). The projected images will be true space filling 3D optical images that can be viewed from a wide area with continuous parallax change and coincident focus and fixation points. The fact that the initial images are created in a very small space will greatly simplify the optical and electro mechanical subsystems used to create the images. This will result in much less expensive and robust components than those found in current volumetric displays, combined with the ability to create images in much larger sizes than current volumetric displays. This should ultimately translate into larger 3D displays at less cost. During the Phase I effort DTI will investigate key components and design issues associated with the proposed display concept, measure the optical and mechanical performance of key components, build a bench model to further test the concept, and identify one or more specific medical visualization applications where the proposed technology will offer significant advantages. The utility of 3D images for interpretation of complex CAT, NMRI, and ultrasound scans for diagnosis and surgical planning is well established, as is the use of such images in medical education and training. The display of images in true three dimensional form promotes more accurate and error free interpretation of images by enhancing the user's ability to interpret features, shape, and distance, and to see through clutter. Volumetric displays are ideal for displaying such images because they do not encumber the operators with headgear. In addition to various medical applications such a display would find wide use in terrain modeling, simulation, collaborative environments, scientific visualization, CAD, advertising, and entertainment, including arcade games.