Patent US 5,493,595

A stereoscopically displayed three dimensional medical imaging system derives image data from a tomographic imaging apparatus and reconstructs the image data into a three dimensional model and displays right and left stereoscopic three dimensional image components of the model on corresponding right and left video display devices of a stereoscopic viewing unit. The system includes a system computer interfaced to the imaging apparatus and a pair of image channels, each including a three dimensional display processor, and a video display device. The three dimensional display processors receive polygon image data, reconstruct it into a three dimensional form, and select image data representing a three dimensional view from a selected perspective. The system computer generates the polygon image data and controls the display processors to present mutually angularly displaced views of the same three dimensional image to form the stereoscopic image components.