Using X3D for medical training simulations

Nowadays medical training simulators play an important role in education and further training of surgeons. With Virtual Reality based training systems it is possible to simulate a surgery under realistic conditions. Input data for the visualization of anatomic structures is tomographic image data. For the visualization of medical datasets direct volume rendering is the method of choice. In this paper we introduce a system based on the new X3D extension proposal of the Medical Working Group for a volume rendering component, with some extensions for controlling the speed vs. quality trade-off. For a convincing and instructive training simulation, our implementation delivers high performance combined with high quality visualization of medical datasets. Furthermore, it integrates haptic forcefeedback devices to assure realistic interactions.