Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2012;29(2):212-216

Optimization of the ray-casting algorithm based on streaming single instruction multiple datum extension.

Yunpeng ZOU 1 ; Ji QI ; Yan KANG

Affiliations

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Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

At present, ray-casting algorithm is the most widely used algorithm in the field of medical image visualization, and it can achieve the best image quality. Due to large amounts of computation like sampling, gradient, lighting and blending calculation, the cost of ray-casting algorithm is very large. The characteristic of Streaming single instruction multiple datum extensions (SSE) instruction--supporting vector computation--can satisfy the property of ray-casting algorithm well. Therefore, in this paper, we improved the implementation efficient significantly by vectorization of gradient, lighting and blending calculation, and still achieved a high quality image at the same time.