Device and system for volume visualization and interaction in a virtual reality or augmented reality environment

A workstation for volume visualization and interaction in a virtual reality or augmented reality environment, said workstation comprising:

• a volume data import and preprocessing unit adapted to input three-dimensional (3D) volume data from an input data source and pre-process the 3D volume data;
• a virtual or augmented reality interface adapted to receive user hand or head position and orientation data from one or more virtual reality or augmented reality devices;
• a virtual or augmented reality interaction system coupled to the virtual or augmented reality interface, said virtual or augmented reality interaction system adapted to provide a plurality of interaction features for a user to interact with the 3D volume data and being adapted to output interaction data based on user interactions with the interaction features;
• a graphics rendering unit adapted to receive the 3D volume data, user hand or head position and orientation data, and the interaction data, the graphics rendering unit adapted to render one or more selected 3D volumes in accordance with a view-ray-ordered rendering process;
• and
• a virtual scenario management unit adapted to manage the virtual scenario data structure which maintains the original volume data, the preprocessed results, the outcome of graphics rendering and the consequences of user interaction.