System for three-dimensional visualization

A system for producing three-dimensional (3D) video data, the video data comprising a sequence of 3D image frames at a frame rate for display on a 3D display screen having a location, the system comprising:

• a first video camera configured to capture a first sequence of image frames at the frame rate, the first camera having a first field of view having a center and a first axis extending in a forward direction through the center of the first field of view, a second video camera configured to capture a second sequence of image frames at the frame rate, the second video camera being spaced apart from the first camera in a lateral direction perpendicular to the forward direction by an inter-camera distance and having a second field of view substantially overlapping with the first field of view, the second field of view having a second axis at a convergence angle relative to the first axis;
• and
• a control computer operatively connected to the second video camera configured to change the inter-camera distance by effectively moving the second video camera laterally with respect to the first video camera, and to change the convergence angle by effectively rotating the second video camera with respect to the first video camera, wherein the control computer automatically calculates the inter-camera distance and convergence angle based on the distance of a user to the display screen, working distance between the video cameras and an object being imaged, zoom settings of the cameras, and size of the display screen, and effectively moves the second camera accordingly,
• wherein, for each set of first and second sequences of image frames, the control computer is configured to perform a keystone correction on the image frames to account for the different projections of each camera, rotationally align corresponding image frames in the first and second sequences, combine the corrected and aligned frames to produce a 3D image frame, and display the sequence of 3D image frames on the 3D display screen;
• and wherein the user is performing a surgical procedure on a patient and viewing the 3D display screen, and the control computer is further configured to perform a pre-surgery calibration to assess how the user perceives depth, and the calculation of the inter-camera distance and convergence angle is further based on the assessment,
• and wherein the control computer obtains results of a stereoacuity test performed by the user and automatically adjusts the convergence angle and inter-camera distance to achieve a disparity that is comfortable for the user based on the results of the stereoacuity test.