Initial experience with stereoscopic visualization of three-dimensional ultrasound data in surgery

Initial in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the fea sibility of stereoscopically displaying three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound d ata from neurosurgery, laparoscopic surgery, and vascular surgery. Stereosc opic visualization was illustrated by four video sequences, which can be do wnloaded from http://www.us.unimed.sintef.no/. These sequences show a brain tumor, hepatic arteries in relation to the gallbladder, a model that mimic s a neuroendoscope in a cyst, and a "flight" into model of an artery with a n intima flap. The experiments indicate that stereoscopic display of ultras ound data is feasible when there is sufficient contrast between the objects of interest and the surrounding tissue. True 3D vision improves perception , thus enhancing the ability to understand complex anatomic structures such as irregular lesions and tortuous vessels.