Selecting transfer functions for displaying medical images

Abstract

System and related method to visualize image data. The system comprises an input port (IN) for receiving i) image data comprising a range of intensity values converted from signals acquired by an imaging apparatus in respect of an imaged object, and ii) a definition of a first transfer function configured to map a data interval within said range of said intensity values to an image interval of image values. A transition region identifier (TRI) identifies from among intensity values outside said data interval, one or more transition intensity values representative of a transition in composition and/or configuration of said object or of a transition in respect of a physical property in relation to said object. A transfer function generator (TFG) generates for said intensity values outside said data interval a second transfer function. The second transfer function is non-linear and has a respective gradient that is locally maximal around said transition intensity values. A renderer (RD) then renders, on a display unit (MT), a visualization of at least a part of said image data based on the two transfer functions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.