A User Interface for MRI Visualization

This intelligent user interface has been developed for the purpose of providing a clinically useful visualization environment to assist in diagnostic cardiology using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The work involves a collaborative effort between researchers from Georgia Tech and Emory University in Atlanta, and Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands. The overall goal of the project is to provide an intuitive environment for potentially novice computer users who require interpreting large amounts of information that are routinely acquired in a clinical setting. The information of interest, dynamic cardiac MRI, represents complex, dynamically moving structures and processes. This patient-specific information is vital for making accurate diagnostic decisions regarding heart disease. The emphasis is placed on myocardial wall thickening motion, focusing on the interactive visualization and manipulation of local as well as global dynamics. The visualization environment employs real-time texture mapping in order to preserve the richness and texture variations that are inherent in these MRI datasets. The system allows the user to view and manipulate the multidimensional information in a variety of ways, and is also capable of displaying numerous slices with a temporal resolution of numerous frames per cardiac cycle while providing realism and speed. The sample movies accompanying this text illustrates the visualization of eight MRI slices and fourteen frames in a cardiac cycle. The system runs on SGI workstations and has been built using Open Inventor. This work is based on previous research conducted by Yves Darly Jean aimed at designing a method for interactive manipulation of volumetric data [Y.D. Jean et al, "A method for Interactive Manipulation and Animation of Volumetric Data", Visualization in Biomedical Computing, 1992].

This movie gives an impression of the cine capabilities of the visualization environment. Also some of the interactive model movement is shown along with the "accordion" function, to view the model from different sides.

Other interactive capabilities are shown in this movie, such as: show/hide slices, an option that gives the user the possibility to view individual slices; show only even or odd slices; or show/hide all slices at once. The rotation of the model around the long-axis is shown, which can be demanded by the user with the view controller. A demonstration is also given of the reformat functionality, which can be interactivelly performed.

A screendump of the total User Interface exists. Finally, it is also possible to take a look inside the heart.

Project Members:

• Dr. Norberto F. Ezquerra
• Marijn van der Velde

• Roderic I. Pettigrew, Ph.D., M.D.
• Marijn Brummer, Ph.D.
• Srinivasan Mukundan, Jr., Ph.D.

• Dr. Ir. C.A.G.P. van der Mast
• Drs. Dr. L.J.M. Rothkrantz

References:

• "Interactive 3D MRI Display,"
  R. Pettigrew, Y. Jean, and others. Abstracts of 79th. Scientific Assembly of the Radiological Society of North America, Chicago, IL, 1993.