Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for preprocessing and storing image attributes for the accelerated display of medical images in medical applications. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: assigning image attributes to a medical image, which are characteristic of a medical application which generates a specific visual display of the medical image; adjusting the medical image in accordance with the image attributes; storing the adjusted medical image together with the image attributes; calling up a further or the same medical application, which requires a visual display of the medical image; checking whether the required image attributes for the visual display correspond to the stored image attributes; calling up the stored, modified medical image in the case of a similar or identical correspondence of the image attributes; and visually displaying the recalled medical image.

Abstract: A path is determined in the following iterative way: An arcuate path around the reference position having a predetermined spacing is determined step-by-step. The existence of an obstacle along the arcuate path is checked. The arcuate path is lengthened as long as no obstacle is found. When an obstacle is found, the spacing is enlarged by a prescribable value and the method is continued in a new iteration with the enlarged spacing.