Abstract: A process for generating animated images of a two-dimensional array of objects advancing in a third dimension includes the steps of: defining an array of objects; defining a start position, an end position, and an advancement path associated with each of the objects, each advancement path extending from the associated start position to the associated end position; defining an associated rate of advancement for each of the objects along the associated path; defining a manifold surface including a locus of points each being defined in a three dimensional coordinate system and having an associated height coordinate value, each of the objects being associated with one of the points on the manifold surface; determining an associated advancement start time for each of the objects based on the associated rate of advancement and an associated height coordinate value of an associated point on the manifold surface; and defining animated images of the array of objects advancing along the associated advancement paths in

Abstract: A process for generating animated graphical images of a vascular structure attached to an anatomical structure includes the steps of: generating and arranging a plurality of anatomical patches in rest positions to form an anatomical patch surface representing an anatomical structure disposed in a rest position; and generating and arranging at least one vascular patch over the anatomical structure in the rest position, the vascular patch having an associated array of control points configured to form a closed surface of a vascular structure having a closed transverse cross section; and establishing a binding positional relationship between at least a portion of the control points and the anatomical patch surface by determining binding points on the surface of at least one selected anatomical patch in a rest position.

Abstract: A process for generating animated graphical images of an exterior patch surface of an exterior layer disposed over an animated underlying structure includes the steps of: generating and arranging a plurality of underlying patches each being in a rest position to form an underlying patch surface representing an underlying structure disposed in a rest position; generating and arranging a plurality of exterior patches to form an exterior patch surface superimposed over the underlying structure in the rest position, each of the exterior patches having an associated array of control points; transforming the control points of the exterior patches into a polygonal mesh of vertex points each being coincident with at least one of the control points; establishing a binding positional relationship between each of the vertex points and an associated closest one of the underlying patches to the vertex point; animating the underlying structure causing a displacement in the position of at least one of the underlying patches