Parallel Implementation for Real-Time Reconstruction of 3D Medical Image Using the Cell Broadband Engine (CBE)

3D or multi-dimensional medical image reconstruction is attracting more and more attention in modern era. Rapid volumetric image reconstruction is of paramount importance to clinicians for prompt diagnosis and analysis of complex tissue alternations. There is a novel multi-core processor architecture, known as the Cell Broadband Engine (CBE), including a main processor and eight synergistic processors on a single chip. With high computing capability and broad banding characteristic, CBE brings new possibility and future scene in both Digital Signal Processing and Image Processing. While developing, we can use C/C ++ Language Extensions of Cell to accomplish very careful processor operation, like cache data transfer and coordinate communication between cores. However, due to the special architecture in Cell, we are unable to make the program use the processor resource automatically. So for those who intend to develop applications on Cell, complete understand the structure of Cell is necessary. In addition, careful plan for program procedures, including splitting the algorithm, time sequence, and cores and bus resource allocation is also needed. With the high performance in computing capability and high data transfer speed, and the flexibility of software implementation for Cell, this project aims to realize fast, multi-functional and real-time 3-D medical image reconstruction, towards a revolutionary impact in medical imaging.

Project ID:PB9709-3583
External Project ID:NSC97-2221-E182-053