ABSTRACT
This chapter gives an overview of the current status of the science of 3D imaging. Loosely, 3D imaging refers to all processing operations that are applied to acquired multidimensional image data to facilitate visualization, manipulation, and analysis of the information captured in the image data. The chapter also identifies the major challenges currently faced and point out the opportunities available for advancing the science of 3D imaging. The target audience is developers of 3D imaging methods and systems, developers of 3D imaging applications, and clinicians using 3D imaging methods and systems. The description will assume some familiarity with medical imaging modalities and some knowledge of rudimentary concepts related to digital images. The purpose of 3D imaging is: given a set of multidimensional images pertaining to an object/object system, to output qualitative/quantitative information about the object/object system under study.
