A parallel volume rendering algorithm: performance analysis and implications in medicine

The present research concerns the domain of Medical Image Processing and, specifically, cardiac image processing. The objective of this research was to analyse the performance of a parallel code for high performance dynamic volume rendering of medical images, starting from 2D image sequences. The availability of a parallel supercomputer lets conceive a technological advance in medical imaging, by accounting for the time factor, the fourth dimension (4D) and, therefore, to provide medical specialist with a breakthrough, dynamic visualization. The parallel system rye propose is a SIMD architecture (Quadrics massively parallel supercomputer), aimed to promote the potential gains of the use of HPCN technology in medical applications.