Medical procedures enter 3D age

Doctors wearing 3D glasses perform a radical gastric cancer operation at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, Central China’ Hubei province, Aug 22, 2013. Gong Jianping, director of Tongji Cancer Research Institute, said of the 3D laparoscopic surgery.

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 “The operation is suitable for early and mid-term gastrointestinal cancers. And surgeries have entered the age of 3D.”

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Booty mining medical devices market to be worth $9.7 billion by 2016

Yes, endoscopy devices are really useful. Less invasive than traditional surgical procedures, and with the addition of more things like 3D cameras, they will turn you inside and out. There's a lot of hidden financial booty for companies working their way up your booty.

How to capture 3D surgery in 3D

Okay, we are still 12 years old when it comes to butt jokes, and we are not going to put up any more pictures of endoscopy devices at work and play. This is serious stuff. We are just jealous because there are billions of dollars to be had making cameras that get all up in there and that.

The global healthcare industry has seen a shift in paradigm and is now skewed toward less-invasive therapies that not only cures serious illnesses, but also have fewer serious side effects. Demand for endoscopy has increased manifolds over the past decade owing to patient preference for minimally invasive surgeries.

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Patient-Side Robotic Surgical Platform provides high-definition 3D vision

TransEnterix engineers have developed a robotic single-site surgical platform that is mobile, provides high-definition 3D vision, and allows the surgeon to remain at the patient’s side.

Called SurgiBot, the company’s newest system is undergoing testing now, according to Todd M. Pope, president and CEO of TransEnterix.

“TransEnterix has ‘powered up’ laparoscopy to make it easier for surgeons to complete procedures in the most minimally invasive way possible,” Pope says. “SurgiBot utilizes robotic technologies and techniques to enhance strength, precision and ergonomic comfort for surgeons.”

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SurgiBot is small and mobile, making it easy for hospitals to move it among operating suites. Its design allows the surgeon to stand at the operating table and remain in direct contact with the patient at all times – versus other robotic systems that require the surgeon to work separated from the patient.

Here’s how SurgiBot works: The surgeon makes a small, single incision in the patient’s abdomen – often hidden inside the belly button – and inserts the device. It opens up like an umbrella, extending articulating instrument channels, which surgeon’s hands control for strength and precision. Once expanded, SurgiBot delivers high-definition, three-dimensional visualization at the operating site, restoring depth perception lost in traditional laparoscopic procedures.

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Live Surgery in 3D!

3D Live Surgery

When most people think of 3D video, big blockbuster movies come to mind. 3D-TV has not really penetrated the home market as quickly as HD for example. Most of the content available to home viewers is produced content, not live video. As a live transmission company, producing a live 3D broadcast presented a lot of challenges in uncharted waters. DCI recently worked with Boxline Box medical communications to transmit the first-ever live broadcast of a 3D surgery at the American Urology Association (AUA) annual convention in San Diego, CA. While most medical broadcasts are done via videoconference, Boxline’s highly experienced Operating Room video staff and DCI’s quality-obsessed field uplink engineers combine perfectly to produce the best looking live broadcasts in the medical communications industry.

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3D Live Surgery

The AUA conference includes a lot of live video from the daVinci robotic surgical system, which natively works in 3D for the surgeon doing the procedure. All the previous feeds we have done were all standard 2D HD, but this year we stepped it up a level to provide the same 3D HD video seen by the operating surgeon.

Because the data required to carry uncompressed 3D HD video exceeds the 1.5gbps defined in SMPTE-292M, commonly known as HD-SDI, there are two ways to carry this content. SMPTE 424M is the most simple within a production plant, it uses a single coaxial cable with a data rate of around 3.0gbps. This interface is commonly referred to as 3G-SDI, although the “G” stands for gigabit, not “Generation” as 3G cellular standards. The only problem with 3G-SDI is very few HD encoders and receiver/decoders used by satellite trucks and teleports are capable of handling it, and the few that do require expensive license keys which no one has purchased due to the lack of 3D transmission requests.

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Brain surgeons get a practice run with simulator from Elyria-based Surgery Theater

For a number of years, pilots have used virtual reality simulators to practice critical missions before taking to the skies. Thanks to a revolutionary new virtual reality training tool developed by Elyria’s Surgical Theater, LLC, surgeons now have a way to practice brain surgery before setting foot in the operating room.

Surgical theater 3D

The Surgery Rehearsal Platform (SRP) simulator consists of a desk top computer, a portable laptop system, software, controllers and 3D glasses.

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“Using standard CT and MRI images from any patient, the SRP generates accurate models in 3D that show the interaction between life-like tissue and surgical instruments,” explains Moty Avisar, Surgical Theater president and CEO. “The tissue responds realistically to actions taken by the surgeon, enabling pre-surgery planning and rehearsal with complete accuracy.”

Beyond practicing on standard CT and MRI images, surgeons can also use unique images taken of the patient who will be undergoing surgery.

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Cutting Edge: 3D Tech Boosts Surgical Precision

Moviegoers aren't the only ones wearing 3D glasses nowadays — doctors could benefit from them, too, a new study suggests.

In the past, doctors have been skeptical of using 3D technology in their work, preferring to rely on their own experience. But that may change, thanks to improved 3D glasses and even glasses-free systems. Funded by industry sponsors, the study of 50 surgeons using the new technology showed improvements in surgical precision and speed.

3D Laparascopy

"While the technology still requires some fine-tuning, technology without the need to wear special glasses will increase the popularity of 3D systems in operating rooms," study leader Ulrich Leiner of the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) in Berlin said in a statement.

3DLivesurgery offers products and services to record surgeries in 3D

Improvements to screens are driving developments in 3D technology. High-definition screens are already available. The next step is ultra-high definition, with a sixteenfold improvement in resolution, according to study co-author Michael Witte of HHI.

To evaluate whether new 3D technology was ready for hospital applications, researchers invited surgeons from the Klinikum rechts der Isar's surgical hospital to test it out. A leading endoscope manufacturer and an international display company funded the study.

The surgeons tested four different systems: 2D, 3D with glasses, 3D without glasses and a mirror-based 3D system. The glasses-free model relied on an eye-tracking camera system that delivered separate images to each eye, creating a 3D effect in the brain.

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Surgeons may soon ‘see around corners’ through real-time 3D images

A first-of-its-kind endoscope that allows surgeons to see around obstructions and generate real-time 3D images while performing surgery, may soon be a reality thanks to a recent license agreement made between The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and EndoPodium, a minimally invasive surgical technology company based in San Diego, California.

“SickKids has always been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge medical technology,” says Dr. James Wright, Chief of Perioperative Services and Surgeon-in-Chief at SickKids, “This agreement is the first step towards making many surgeries faster and easier and ultimately improving patient outcomes.”

Under the agreement SickKids and EndoPodium will collaborate to create a prototype of an endoscope that will function similar to an umbrella. During minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, the closed device can be inserted into a small incision and its three arms - each equipped with a camera and a light source - opened once inside the body. The three camera view means a larger viewing field and the ability to reconstruct a 3D scene of the target area.

SickKids’ Centre for Image-Guided Innovation & Therapeutic Intervention (CIGITI) group developed the idea for the endoscope after collaborating with surgeons, engineers and software developers.

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3D HD System - Titan Medical Inc. Announces Update to the Development of its Single Incision Surgery

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 6, 2013) - Titan Medical Inc. today announces that it has completed prototyping of its 3D HD chip-on-tip camera system to be used in its Single Incision surgery system. This unique chip-on-tip technology will be an integral part of the system, allowing surgeons the flexibility and capability for viewing with a single incision approach.

Endoscopic 3D

"The 3D HD chip-on-tip camera will allow surgeons the flexibility of seeing patient anatomy and instruments from multiple viewpoints," commented Dr. Reiza Rayman, President, Titan Medical Inc. "This type of capability is unavailable to robotic surgeons today."

How to record surgery with 3d technology

The Company is advancing the development of its Single Incision Surgery system and remains on track to commercialization.

About Titan Medical Inc.

Titan Medical Inc. is a Canadian public company  focused on the design and development of a robotic surgical system for application in minimally invasive surgery ("MIS"). The Company's robotic surgical system, currently under development, comprises a surgeon-controlled robotic platform that includes a 3D vision system and interactive instruments for performing MIS procedures, and a surgeon workstation that provides the surgeon with an interface to the robotic platform for controlling the interactive instruments and providing a 3D endoscopic view of inside a patient's body during MIS procedures. The robotic surgical system is being designed to expand robotic surgery into areas of surgical specialties and simple and complex procedures that are currently under-serviced, and to allow surgeons to perform procedures within small to medium size surgical spaces such as general surgery and cholecystectomy. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.titanmedicalinc.com.

Press Release here:

The new light 3D laparoscopy without robotics

From being safer to more cost effective, read on to know about 3D laparoscopy – a new technique for uterus associated surgeries

3D laparoscopy is safe, creates fewer complications, is cost-effective, reduces surgery time and even the number of days the patient needs to spend in the hospital post surgery. It also gives the surgeon, performing an invasive procedure, a far better field of vision, thus improving the precision and accuracy of the surgery.

3D Laprascopy Surgery

How to produce 3D surgical videos

 After performing over 25,000 laparoscopic surgeries, laparoscopic surgeon Dr Prakash Trivedi hails 3D laparoscopy as a beneficial advancement in the field of surgery. It could be a boon, for patients who have had a previous C-section, have fibroids or are high risk patients suffering from obesity, diabetes, blood pressure.

Dr Trivedi successfully performed 3D laparoscopic surgery on two patients at the Total Women’s Health Care Center, Mumbai. Parineeta Seth, 40 had been suffering from menstrual migraine, cramps, vomiting, and nausea for over a year and was mistakenly diagnosed as suffering from fibroids, when she actually had adenomysis and had to remove her uterus. “I was really worried about it but the 3D laparoscopy technique made it so simple. My sister, who underwent a hysterectomy, took a month to recover but just a week later, I don’t have any pain or discomfort and am already at work,” she says. Dr Trivedi adds, “Its just like doing an open surgery, but with the benefits of minimal invasion. Even suturing with 3D laparoscopy is so clear and simple.”

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Olympus Introduces the World's Only Articulating HD 3D Laparoscopic Surgical Video System

Technology Improves Speed, Accuracy and Precision of Surgical Procedures When Compared with 2D Surgical Systems.

The Olympus Articulating HD 3D Laparoscopic Surgical Video System delivers value to surgeons and patients by reducing surgical errors and improving the speed, accuracy and precision of surgical tasks such as dissection, grasping and suturing when compared with traditional 2D surgical systems, based on internal Olympus testing conducted using a simulated surgical model. This is accomplished by restoring natural 3D vision and depth perception when performing laparoscopic procedures and is independent of a surgeon's skill level.

"The Olympus HD 3D system is ideal for suturing, accurately identifying tissue planes and other precision surgical tasks that are required in my laparoscopic surgical cases," said Dr. Marcos Michellotti, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Loma Linda University Health System in Loma Linda, California. "In addition, the articulating design enables me to obtain the critical view of anatomical structures in HD 3D without losing the important visual horizon. This is not possible with traditional fixed angle laparoscopes."

Another significant advantage of the new Olympus HD 3D video platform is its availability as a module that can be easily added to an existing Olympus EVIS EXERA III Universal Imaging System. The modular design reduces the investment necessary to add 3D capability, and allows the surgeon to choose either 2D or 3D visualization from the surgical field. This helps to reduce capital investments and simplify asset management and training.                            

"The Olympus HD 3D System brings value to those surgeons that need the precision, resolution, and depth perception of 3D without the substantial capital investment and annual maintenance expenses associated with alternatives such as robotic technology," said Luke Calcraft, President of the Medical Systems Group at Olympus Corporation of the Americas. "We are leading the way with new innovations to help our customers realize the clinical efficacy and cost effectiveness required under Accountable Care."

Olympus is a pioneer of minimally invasive surgery (Laparoscopy), a modern technique in which an operation in the abdomen is performed through small incisions as compared to larger incisions needed in traditional surgical procedures. This surgical approach addresses the key requirements of Healthcare Reform:

Increased Quality of Care – Minimally invasive surgery provides better clinical outcomes than traditional "open" surgery.
Decreased Costs – Numerous industry and clinical studies have demonstrated that minimally invasive surgery provides significant cost savings when compared to a robotic surgical approach.*
Enhanced Patient Satisfaction – Minimally invasive surgery provides less scarring, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery than traditional "open" surgery.

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A High-Resolution Endoscope as thin as a Human hair

Engineers at Stanford have developed a prototype single-fiber endoscope that improves the resolution of these much-sought-after instruments fourfold over existing designs. The advance could lead to an era of needle-thin, minimally invasive endoscopes able to view features out of reach of today’s instruments.

Engineers at Stanford have demonstrated a high-resolution endoscope that is as thin as a human hair with a resolution four times better than previous devices of similar design. The so-called micro-endoscope is a significant step forward in high-resolution, minimally invasive bio-imaging with potential applications in research and clinical practice. Micro-endoscopy could enable new methods in diverse fields ranging from study of the brain to early cancer detection.The new endoscope was developed by a team under the direction of Joseph Kahn, professor of electrical engineering at the Stanford School of Engineering. The results were published recently in the journal Optics Express and showcased in the Optical Society of America’s Spotlight on Optics.

Their prototype can resolve objects about 2.5 microns in size, and a resolution of 0.3 microns is easily within reach. A micron is one thousandth of a millimeter. By comparison, today’s high-resolution endoscopes can resolve objects only to about 10 microns. The naked eye can see objects down to about 125 microns.


Complete article here: Stanford Engineering Website

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3D technology useful to even experienced surgeons

A new study has shown that even experienced surgeons stand to benefit from 3D technology.

While physicians have largely ignored 3D technology until now, it appears to be getting a second chance, according to a new study of the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute HHI and Klinikum rechts der Isar university hospital in Munich.

Thanks in particular to improved 3D-glasses and screens, practical tests have recently shown that 3D systems used in medical technology have benefits that were once believed to be purely theoretical.

Researchers showed that even experienced physicians could benefit from the latest generation of 3D devices, after some 50 surgeons responded positively to 3D systems both with and without glasses.

“While the technology still requires some fine-tuning, technology that does without the need to wear special glasses will increase the popularity of 3D systems in operating rooms. In the past, surgeons were hesitant to use the technology precisely because of the glasses,” said Dr Ulrich Leiner, head of the Interactive Media – Human Factors department at HHI.

The study was conducted as a result of current developments in 3D screen technology which have seen 4K models for medical applications that offer quad HD resolution become readily available.

“The next step is ultra-high definition with 8K. This will mark a 16-fold improvement on the resolution of currently available full-HD images,” said Michael Witte of HHI in explaining current trends.

Witte is convinced that 3D without glasses will contribute to a lasting breakthrough.

“This is why the researchers thought it was high time to carry out a scientific test that would assess whether 3D technology has reached the level of maturity required of sensitive hospital applications,” he said.

Surgeons participating in the test tried a total of four different screen systems: 2D, 3D with and without glasses, and a mirror apparatus that served as the ideal 3D model.

Images were delivered by endoscopic cameras that the doctors used during a simulated routine surgical procedure in which physicians sewed up a wound with ten stitches using a needle and thread in a model abdominal cavity.

Just as would be the case in a minimally invasive surgical procedure, the surgeons did not have a direct view of their hands, and thus depended on the screen.

“The results were astonishing: with the glasses-based 3D system the procedure was more than 15 per cent shorter, and precision increased considerably. Hand movements were more targeted than with the 2D model.

“As far as I know, we have not observed this effect among our experienced surgeons in the past,” said Professor Hubertus Feußner in describing the test winner.

The surgeon, who has worked at Klinikum rechts der Isar for over 30 years, has conducted several thousand operations.

“In the past, it was the most experienced physicians in particular who were very skeptical of 3D technology. And this was not only because it hardly offered any tangible benefits. Many physicians felt uncomfortable looking at the screens, and preferred to rely on their experience as a result,” said PD Dr Silvano Reiser, Feußner’s colleague.

The model without glasses also made a positive impression – test participants considered its quality as comparable to 2D.

“Unfortunately, the system we developed was unable to take the first place ranking. But the first hard practical medical test showed great promise, as we were able to work on the fundamental eye-tracking technology.

“This is where, through eye-tracking, cameras follow both eyes, and each eye sees a separate image. This creates a 3D effect without glasses,” Leiner said.

Full article here

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Laparoscopic Surgery with 3D Visualization at Keck Medical Center of USC

Anthony Senagore, chief of colorectal surgery at Keck Hospital of USC, leads the first team on the West Coast to implement a novel 3D visualization tool designed by Viking Systems. The use of a 3D camera and special glasses brings depth perception to surgeons who would otherwise have to compensate for a flat view of the organs on which they're operating.

"We've been performing advanced laparoscopic procedures for many years, and many of us have learned how to accommodate a two-dimensional picture," Senagore said, "but his is really the first time we've been able to replicate the way we normally see the operative field. It's enabled us to expedite the procedures and should improve accuracy and safety."

Senagore feels the technology will also help trainees acquire advanced surgical skills more quickly, and is eager to discover additional benefits.

"This is our first attempt to explore this technology," Senagore noted. "Our initial experience has been very good."


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3D camera for brain surgery a big leap forward

The Toronto doctor who pioneered what has become an international standard in neurosurgery is once again breaking new ground, becoming the first surgeon in Canada to use a 3D camera to remove a brain tumour.

Dr. Michael Cusimano made headlines 17 years ago when he became the first neurosurgeon in the world to remove tumours by endoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure that involves sending a video lens along with instruments through both nostrils and into the brain.

The 3D tool he ultimately developed helps surgeons precisely manoeuvre their instruments in a tiny space. The better view enables surgeons to remove more of a tumour with reduced risk of error.

Back in the operating room, with the 3D endoscope buried about 10 centimetres in his patient’s nose and brain, Cusimano marvelled at the image on the screen.

It was as though his own eyes were in the patient’s brain, he says, noting the 3D view allowed him to more accurately and quickly resect the patient’s tumour.

After his first run with the 3D endoscope, Cusimano gave the new technology two thumbs up.

“We’re excited by it. It’s a natural evolution to surgery,” says the doctor, who also teaches medical students at the University of Toronto.

Health Canada approved the 3D endoscope this past spring. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration approved it more than a year and a half ago and now about a dozen hospitals there use it. It’s widely employed in Italy, and hospitals in other European countries as well as Israel also use it.

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Panasonic introduces medical-grade 3D monitor for surgery

SECAUCUS, NJ – Panasonic, a provider of professional healthcare display and monitor solutions, today announced a new 3D medical-grade 32” class monitor.

The new monitor, the EJ-MDA32U-K, is fully compliant with medical equipment standards, delivers 2D and 3D image quality and can display multiple images from various sources at once, according to Panasonic officials.


These combined features, paired with Panasonic’s renowned reliability, make the new monitor ideal for use in the surgical bubble, they said in a press release.

“To improve patient outcomes, there is an ever increasing reliance on technology in the surgical suite,” said Scott Thie, director of Healthcare, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. “Although this technology has many benefits, it can also create a cluttered environment."

The EJ-MDA32U-K helps to improve the surgical experience by having a large screen, HD image that can be clearly viewed by all clinicians, while also providing flexibility that helps to reduce clutter, according to Thie. “By allowing up to three images to be displayed on the screen at once – from multiple input sources – and by delivering high quality 3D and 2D HD images, we offer a single device that addresses multiple needs in the surgical suite,” he said.

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Surgeons simulate aesthetic procedures using 3D photography

If you are one the thousands of people each year considering aesthetic plastic surgery, MidAmerica Plastic Surgery has some good news for you. Recent advances in three dimensional (3D) photography combined with revolutionary new software allow prospective patients to preview what they will look like as the result of breast augmentation, facial procedures, and more, well in advance of any surgery.

Both the VECTRA® 3D camera and Sculptor software which make this possible were developed by Canfield Imaging Systems of Fairfield, NJ, the world's leading provider of medical photography systems. The process starts with a VECTRA 3D session which produces a three-dimensional photograph of the patient. Then, using Sculptor software, the surgeon is able to simulate the expected results of a variety of aesthetic procedures.

"My patients absolutely love this," said Dr. Ryan Diederich. "For the first time, they're able to see a 3D picture of themselves with their new look. Because it's in 3D, I can rotate their picture to any viewpoint and they can really examine the desired result. We can make changes here and there and agree on a final look in advance, and this truly helps them make a decision".

SOURCE MidAmerica Plastic Surgery

3-D imaging lets brain surgeons rehearse risky procedures

Using CT and MRI scans, software builds up a 3-D image of the brain.

A surgeon probes a patient's brain and sees her target: a swelling on the side of a blood vessel, like a blister on a tire where the rubber has worn off. It's an aneurysm. She uses tiny clips to cut it off from the blood vessel. But there's a problem: an unseen defect causes the aneurysm to burst, resulting in a massive stroke. But there's no problem — she can try again because it was all done in a simulator.

In the next few months, University Hospital Case Medical Center in Cleveland and UCLA will be testing a 3-D imaging system that, coupled with a tool that gives tactile feedback, will allow doctors to rehearse high-risk brain surgery. The system will be tested on virtual brain aneurysms, comparing the outcomes with real surgeries that were done without it.

3D surgery success in Manchester Royal Infirmary’s

It seems that the 3D format has opened new paths in the sphere of medicine as Manchester Royal Infirmary’s doctors have revealed that they made use of a tridimensional projector while performing a surgery. Very successfully too.

While in theatre, the team wore special glasses to view the process in crystal clear 3D.

According to the medical experts, new technologies combined with the 3D format will allow doctors more flexibility while operating and will lessen the risks of some advanced operations (breaking muscle tissue, nerve damage).

During this particular surgery, a robotic arm with a built-in 3D camera gave doctors the possibility to see every tridimensional detail of how the technology assisted in carrying out the operation.

It seems that using 3D in instances such as this can display the strengths of robotic technologies as well as pinpoint areas where it is lacking.

A spokesperson for the hospital said that using 3D and robotic arms could potentially allow surgeons to perform “more operations with even better outcomes.”

One of the surgeons, Dan Burke, also added that he hoped that the technology will be made available for other patients as it made the process much faster and accurate as the technology is more flexible than a human wrist.

3D Stereoscopic Endoscopy for heart Surgery

WAUWATOSA, Wis., Feb. 21, 2012 - 3D Surgical Solutions, LLC and Wheaton Franciscan-The Wisconsin Heart Hospital Campus announced that the first case ever using the Leonardo 3D Vision™ System was successfully conducted in a surgical robotic procedure. This revolutionary system provides stereoscopic 3D visualization to personnel at the bedside -- as well as the entire surgical robotic team -- during the surgery. The Leonardo 3D Vision™ System was used in conjunction with the daVinci® Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical®).

"Today's case demonstrates a culmination of years of research and development that bring a new level of 3D visualization to the operating room," said Dr. Husam Balkhy, Chairman, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Director, Center for Robotic and Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at The Wisconsin Heart Hospital.

Dr. Balkhy and his medical team utilized the Leonardo 3D Vision™ System while performing a beating heart Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB). This event marks a major milestone in the expansion of stereoscopic 3D visualization within the robotic and video-assisted surgical fields and is a breakthrough in the availability of high-quality surgical imaging. This technology can be used with other cases using the daVinci® Surgical System, including urology and gynecology procedures.

"For me, having such wonderfully crisp 3D images to work with is exciting and extremely helpful," added Dorothy Krienbring, Dr. Balkhy's first assistant. "It allows me to introduce instruments and supplies into the chest with safety and with much more accuracy. Using this system allows all of us to see the anatomy in spectacular detail. The Leonardo system is a major step forward in the field of endoscopic surgery."
In addition, the Atlanticus 3D Recorder™ (a component of the Leonardo 3D Vision™ System) was used during the case to digitally record stereoscopic 3D-HD video for presentation at symposia, other clinically-oriented events, and teaching purposes.

"The versatility of this system is impressive, and the opportunity for optimized teaching that it represents is sure to provide enhanced safety as well as substantial cost and time savings to the operative and surgical training arena," Balkhy said.

About 3D Surgical Solutions
3D Surgical Solutions, LLC, based in metro Atlanta, GA, is dedicated to providing stereoscopic 3D solutions to the surgical and medical community. The company develops and markets advanced stereoscopic 3D systems providing superior imaging, versatility, and a cost-effective transition from 2D to stereoscopic 3D video environments. Currently, the firm is engaged in a private equity offering to provide funding for expansion and growth.

About Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in Wisconsin
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare (WFH) is a Catholic, not-for-profit organization with more than 100 health and shelter organizations in Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, and Illinois.  Started by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters more than 130 years ago and formally incorporated in 1983, WFH has corporate services offices in Wheaton, Illinois and Glendale, Wisconsin.

World's First 3D Surface Anatomy Guide

Thursday, 8th December 2011 The world’s first 3D surface anatomy guide for medical and physiotherapy students, surgical trainees and artists has been developed in Ireland through a unique collaboration between anatomists, artists and engineers. Launched today in the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in Dublin, the two year project, funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), has resulted in an on-line 3D guide which shows the motions of muscles and the sites of structures from the surface inwards.  It shows how, by using movement, colour, illustration and 3D technology, anatomists, engineers and artists can collaborate to teach the body from the outside in.

The project combined artistic representation, engineering expertise and anatomical accuracy into a four hour teaching programme and will shortly be part of the curriculum/training for medical students in Dublin, Bahrain and Kuala Lumpur.  Computer aided learning is an elegant and cost-effective solution for medical students as it gives them  access to a 3D representation of the human body and helps mitigate the traditional constraints of medical education such as a lack of willing live models.


Stereo-3D or stereoscopic photography was used to create the footage for the project but the technology has been around for a long time.  Stereoscopic pictures of Dublin can be found in the National Library dating from 1865. The technology has been through several reincarnations in the past but it is only in the last five years that the technology has caught up with the idea as everyone knows from the explosion of 3D content on the big screen.

“What is less known is that it is still hard to shoot things in stereo-3D. The crew needs to work with two cameras mechanically and electronically coupled to each other. Quite aside from the physical problems of manipulating the camera rig, it turns out that the camera sensors can never be the same. This is bad for stereo-3D viewing and tends to make people feel ill. The engineering challenges centre on fixing the pictures in post-production using signal processing algorithms designed by the Sigmedia group at Trinity,” said Anil Kokaram, associate professor at the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Trinity College.

Full article here