Visualization in biomedical computing

Visualizable objects in biology and medicine extend across a vast range of scale, from individual molecules and cells, to the varieties of tissue and interstitial interfaces, to complete organs, organ systems and body parts, and include functional attributes of these systems, such as biophysical, biomechanical and physiological properties. Medical applications include accurate anatomy and function mapping, enhanced diagnosis, accurate treatment planning and rehearsal, and education/training. However, the greatest potential for revolutionary innovation in the practice of medicine lies in direct, fully immersive, real-time multisensory fusion of real and virtual information data streams into online, real-time visualizations available during an actual clinical procedure. Current high-performance computers and advanced image processing capabilities have facilitated major progress toward realization of this goal. With these advances in hand, there are several important applications possible to be delivered soon that will have a significant impact on the practice of medicine and on biological research.