Improving 3D Models for Research
Improving 3D Models for Research
By Mike de la Flor
On the last day of SIGGRAPH David West hosted a Birds of a Feather meeting titled “Maya for Medical Professionals”. Though the intended subject was the use of Maya in biomedical visualization, the topic quickly shifted to a ubiquitous quandary, namely the lack of quality and reasonably priced anatomical 3D models.
While available anatomical 3D models may be sufficient for visual effects in films, video games, and even basic education, they fall short of the needed detail and flexibility for the rigors biomedical research. For instance, achieving the level of detail encountered by surgeons in the OR with polygonal models for use in soft-tissue, surgical simulation is daunting prospect. Equally, biophysicists require standardization in the metrics of 3D models to carry out biomechanical simulations. Moreover, everyone has a bottom line so expense is an important issue. Thus the problem facing developers of anatomical models is three-fold; accuracy, standardization, and cost. As a result, much research is still carried out on live animals or cadavers.
3D technologies are often used in research, such as surgical simulation for training, unfortunately there is a shortage of quality anatomical models. © Nigel John
A potential solution is an open source community that would share the work and expense of developing anatomical models. Nigel John, co-chair of the Web3D Medical Working Group, wrote, “If X3D is the selected format, then I think that the Medical Working Group would happily house the repository and help to manage and publicise it.”
However, Zygote, a lead provider of anatomical models, launched the Open3DProject a year ago, even priming the project with free integumentary models. Regrettably, the project has failed to catch on. A possible reason for the delay is that unlike modeling a machine, for instance an airplane, building anatomical models is a far more intricate and time-consuming endeavour because of the complexity and variability involved. Nonetheless, according to Roger Clarke, Zygote is committed to not only supporting their open source efforts but to also refining the quality of its commercial models.
Other possible solutions include programs such as, Slicer3D, Osirix, and 3D-Doctor which import data from MRI, CT, PET and build accurate, even patient-specific polygonal anatomical models. Equally, coupling voxels and haptics may also offer a viable solution to modeling detailed anatomical models.