3D pen 'feels' virtual organ images
Published: Feb. 8, 2008 at 3:34 PM
UPPSALA, Sweden, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Swedish scientists said new technology will allow doctors to use computerized image analysis to diagnose and plan cancer treatment.
Computerized image analysis can be used to determine the size of organs or to construct three-dimensional models of organs when surgery or radiation is being planned. Erik Vidholm of the Center for Image Analysis at Uppsala University has developed interactive methods to work with the images, replacing the mouse and keyboard with a three-dimensional -- or haptic -- mouse that enables the user to feel the virtual organs, the university said Friday in a release.
"To get a greater sense of depth in the image we use stereo graphics. When the models are to be adapted to the images, this is done partly automatically on the basis of the content of the image and partly with the input of the user wielding the haptic pen," Vidholm said.
Computerized image analysis can be used to determine the size of organs or to construct three-dimensional models of organs when surgery or radiation is being planned. Erik Vidholm of the Center for Image Analysis at Uppsala University has developed interactive methods to work with the images, replacing the mouse and keyboard with a three-dimensional -- or haptic -- mouse that enables the user to feel the virtual organs, the university said Friday in a release.
"To get a greater sense of depth in the image we use stereo graphics. When the models are to be adapted to the images, this is done partly automatically on the basis of the content of the image and partly with the input of the user wielding the haptic pen," Vidholm said.
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This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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