Abstract:
In this talk, I will describe a system that enables a physician during
surgical procedures to view real-time patient image data registered within
the patient. This capability is achieved by combining within the
physician's head-mounted display, synthetic computer-graphics
reconstructions with the physician's views of the patient. The synthetic
imagery is constructed currently from real-time ultrasound echographic
images from a hand-held transducer moved across the patient's skin. In
order to achieve this more natural visualization, challenging technological
problems of real-time tracking, image generation and image presentation
need to be solved. The system has recently been used to visualize cysts
and solid lesions in patients undergoing needle biopsies of the breast. We
hope such a system will both assist physicians with difficult procedures
and also suggest more effective solutions in a variety of other
applications in architecture, navigation, and spatial design. In the long
run, an effective 3D visualization within the user's own space may lead to
a richer, more natural computer interface than today's 2D desktop metaphor.
MEETINGS WITH FACULTY AND STUDENTS:
Prof. Fuchs will be our guest at faculty lunch on February 4. He will also
be available to meet with faculty or students, individually or in groups, from
1:30 until 3:30. He is particularly interested in meeting with undergraduates
who are interested in pursuing advanced degrees in computer science with a
specialization in computer graphics. Interested parties should email their
requests to Joyce Chandler (chandler@cs), who will be arranging his schedule.
Student reception: Refreshments will be served 3:45-4:15 in the basement
elevator lobby.