Method and apparatus for generating a 2D image having pixels corresponding to voxels of a 3D image

A computer readable non-transitory storage medium comprising computer program instructions capable of being executed in a processor and defining the steps comprising:

• modeling a geometrical volume based on a surface of a structure in a 3D image;
• projecting normal maximum intensity projection (MIP) rays for voxels of said geometrical volume toward an interior of the structure;
• and
• generating a 2D image of the surface of the structure having at least one pixel corresponding to at least one voxel of said 3D image using said MIP rays.

An apparatus for generating a two dimensional (2D) image of a surface of a structure having at least one pixel corresponding to at least one voxel of a three dimensional (3D) image of said structure comprising:

• means for modeling a geometrical volume based on the surface of said structure in said 3D image;
• means for projecting normal maximum intensity projection (MIP) rays for voxels of the geometrical volume toward an interior of the structure;
• and
• means for generating said 2D image having said at least one pixel corresponding to said at least one voxel of said 3D image using said MIP rays.