Illustrative Visualization of Vascular Models for Static 2D Representations

Depth assessment of 3D vascular models visualized on 2D displays is often difficult, especially in complex workspace conditions such as in the operating room. To address these limitations, we propose a new visualization technique for 3D vascular models. Our technique is tailored to static monoscopic 2D representations, as they are often used during surgery. To improve depth assessment, we propose a combination of supporting lines, view-aligned quads, and illustrative shadows. In addition, a hatching scheme that uses different line styles depending on a distance measure is applied to encode vascular shape as well as the distance to tumors. The resulting visualization can be displayed on monoscopic 2D monitors and on 2D printouts without the requirement to use color or intensity gradients. A qualitative study with 15 participants and a quantitative study with 50 participants confirm that the proposed visualization technique significantly improves depth assessment of complex 3D vascular models.