Virtual Tomographic Reflection (VTR) is a new augmented reality technique that allows users to view volumetric image data using an interaction paradigm based on medical ultrasound. VTR is essentially a “virtual” version of the Sonic Flashlight, a device that permits real-time in situ visualization of ultrasound images by reflecting calibrated images displayed on a flat-panel monitor from a partially transparent half silvered mirror [1]. In VTR, as opposed to the actual Sonic Flashlight, the ultrasound scanner is replaced by an optically tracked dummy ultrasound scanner with a mirror and display capable of generating cross-sections through stored real or computer-generated image data. The design of this system was motivated by the need to conduct psychophysical and accuracy analysis of the real Sonic Flashlight in a highly controlled artificial environment [2]. Here we present the latest version of our VTR device and describe the overall system architecture as well as a highly ...
Damion Shelton, Bing Wu, Roberta L. Klatzky, Georg