Specification: Urology 3D virtual simulator

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Aims: Medical simulation techniques are going to be a part of mandatory process for training education. Enhancing and improving the quality of medical high-resolution images, three-dimensional (3D) visualization becomes possible and students' understanding can be improved in clinical practice and education. We aim extraction and reconstruction of 3D realistic anatomical models from CT/DICOM images with variable software packages and simulating them three dimensionally for educational purposes

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Benefits:  

• Decrease the cost with using virtual based 3D models for surgical implementation and simulation, learning anatomy in medical fields specifically on urology, no more expensive machines and simulators

• Using simulation technology for better understanding 3D surgical anatomy 

• Creating 3D medical simulator for virtual training (in laparoscopic/endoscopic)

• Virtual training curriculum on medical models will be one of the target at the end of the Project

• Medical 3D virtual reality technique is easily applicable to other clinic area.

• The main advantage of  3D simulator, unlike in-vivo training, the entire procedure is completed in a risk-free environment without space-time constraints.

 

Methodology:  Medical 3D simulation technology has resulted in exciting new solutions and possibilities of medical diagnosis and practice. The first step in developing a Medical 3D simulation is to reconstruct a DICOM file standardized with medical images from software package MIMICS, and to extract appropriate anatomical 3D model information such as STL. The second step to create a realistic human model is customizing the STL data with 3DS MAX and Z-Brush 3D model editing tool and texturing process using Photoshop to express realistic anatomical texture. The third step to visualization in virtual reality, a refined human 3D data is put into a virtual reality engine such as Unity 3D, and the simulator is completed through customization process like as program coding and interface device interlocking process.

 

 

Workflow:

 

• Medical Image (CT/MRI) : Extraction of  Computer Tomography (CT ) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data, from patients or cadavers with medical image device.

• Dicom : Generating the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) files from CT/MRI with Mimics.

• Segmentation : Mask the area of interest  and extracting STL files with Mimics.

• Modeling : 3D Surface treatment and texturing for realistic human & surgery tool model with 3DS MAX and Z-Brush

• Library : 3D animated surgical movements with 3D controller and Building libraries of final 3D data  with 3DS MAX and Z-Brush

• Coding : Converting 3D data into VR engine and  component Coding with Unity 3D

• Simulator: Application publishing with Unity 3D