A three-dimensional (3D) imaging system and method include a processor for
generating a volume-rendered 3D image on a display using a plurality of
voxels from a 3D image dataset; and a view selector which responds to user
inputs for determining a first set of voxels corresponding to a boundary
in the volume-rendered 3D image using a predetermined boundary-specifying
criteria applied to a function of the opacity of the plurality of voxels.
The processor responds to the first set and to a user function selection
by performing the selected function to modify the volume-rendered 3D image
relative to the detected boundaries. The selected function is a display
function, a measurement function, or a segmentation function. The view
selector determines the boundary from voxels having opacities greater than
a predetermined threshold, or determines the boundary from voxels having a
gradient in opacities greater than a predetermined threshold.
Alternatively, the view selector determines the boundary from voxels
having a greatest contribution to a total intensity which is a function of
the opacities of the voxels, or determines the boundary from voxels having
respective contributions greater than a predetermined threshold, with such
contributions being to a total intensity which is a function of the
opacities of the voxels.
