A 3-D digital patient that could save your life

CAVEman Christoph W. Sensen/University of Calgary

Hovering above the floor in a darkened room called the CAVE (for “cave automated virtual environment”) is the larger-than-life-size virtual patient CAVEman, the world’s most sophisticated digital model of the human body. To create it, scientists at the University of Calgary and graphic artists used anatomy texts and specimens to render every organ, bone, nerve and biological system into detailed 3-D images.

From the CAVE’s floor and walls, projectors display the virtual patient at 10 times the detail of the next-best simulations. CAVEman started life as a massage-therapy training tool, but researchers can now customize the generic version to represent actual patients by plugging in data and images from MRI scans, biopsies and other personal information—anything that’s compatible with the software. Next up: The Calgary team will add tactile feedback sensors and make CAVEman simulate dynamic processes, such as respiration and blood flow, so that doctors can test-run treatments before trying them in the O.R.

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5 Comments

yourdaddy30

from Gardner, ks

thats just Amazing just think about what this could do for you next time your in the hospital. =]

this is a test

Almost like one big electronic road map inside of us. How many states can this latest technology be found in? And wasn't there at one time a 3D Caveman video game?

-Len

I am a Radiography student, and I am curious if x-rays can be made compatible with the CAVE?

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