Computerschnitt

Computerschnitt is a German term used to describe a cross-sectional image or plane extracted from a three-dimensional data set by a computer. It refers to the intersection of a chosen plane with a volume, where data along that plane are sampled and rendered to produce a two-dimensional representation. The technique relies on data interpolation from discrete voxels, using methods such as nearest neighbor, trilinear, or higher-order schemes.

Applications of theComputerschnitt are widespread. In medical imaging, computer-generated slices are fundamental in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosis and treatment planning. In radiology, the common orientations include axial, sagittal, and coronal planes, often produced through multiplanar reconstruction (MPR). Beyond medicine, computerschnitt is used in geosciences for seismic or geological volumes, in industrial nondestructive testing, and in 3D visualization and printing workflows where layered representations are needed.

Terminology and techniques vary by field. The general idea is to obtain a consistent, scalable 2D view from a 3D dataset. Challenges include finite resolution, anisotropy of voxel spacing, and artifacts arising from interpolation or data acquisition.

History and context show that computerschnitt emerged with early volumetric imaging technologies in the 1970s and evolved with advances in computing power and imaging hardware. Today it remains a core concept in visualization, diagnostic imaging, and digital modeling.

See also: computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, multiplanar reconstruction, volume rendering, slicing.