Survey of see-through technique in computer-aided surgery

The application of see-through technique in computer-aided surgery is a hot research topic at present. In this article, firstly, the concept of see-through is introduced, and the necessity of its application in computer-aided surgery is also emphasized. Secondly, the state of arts of see-through technique is discussed systematically in computer-aided surgery. Thirdly, the research contents of see-through technique are summarized into three parts, including registration of medical imaging data, parameter-estimation of see-through model, and depth perception, which are all explained in details. Fourthly, two standard systems based on see-through technique are addressed in this paper. Finally, through the analysis on technique, human factor and clinic applications, further research questions and possible directions in the future are proposed.