PlanUNC History
- UNC was the earliest research group to specify, develop and clinically evaluate virtual simulation [Mosher 1987; Sherouse 1987, 1990b, 1991; Rosenman 1991; Sailer 1992]. Virtual simulation is now standard practice in the clinical setting.
- UNC was among the earliest research groups to investigate 3D graphics in the user interface [Pizer 1984, 1986; Chaney 1985; Mosher 1988; Levoy 1990; Fishman 1991]. Such displays are now standard.
- UNC’s early clinic-friendly user-guided image segmentation tool kit [Mills 1989] was freely distributed and is even directly incorporated into several current-day commercial treatment planning systems.
- Digitally reconstructed radiography (DRR) is a core component of virtual simulation. UNC published the first algorithm for computing DRRs [Sherouse 1990; Chaney 1995] and described their use in the beam’s-eye-view (BEV) window including embedded display of graphical data such as beam apertures and rendered anatomical structures. The UNC DRR algorithm still is the basic standard for research and commercial systems.
- UNC published the first application of digitally reconstructed fluoroscopy (DRF) [Cullip 1993]. DRF has become standard for research and commercial systems.
- UNC performed the first Monte Carlo study leading to the multiple-source model for significantly improving the accuracy of calculating dose from x-ray beams produced by linear accelerators [Chaney 1994]. Multiple-source models are now standard for research and commercial systems.