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the latest in Evidence based Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s health.
Virtual
reality 3D technology allows parents to meet their unborn child: News from
Radiological Society of North America 2016 Annual Conference.
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3D virtual model MRI view of fetus at 26
weeks.Photo credit: Image courtesy of Radiological Society of North
America
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1.
New technology combines MRI and Ultrasound data
into a 3-D virtual reality model of a fetus.
2.
The models are very similar to what the baby
will look like after birth and can create any internal fetal organ replica to
perfection.
3.
Wearing a virtual reality headset, the parents
can hear the baby’s heartbeat and see the anatomy.
Parents may now be able to see their unborn
babies developing in realistic 3-D immersive visualizations. This is made
possible because of efforts of team of Brazilian researchers said Heron
Werner Jr, MD, PhD, from the Clínica de Diagnóstico por Imagem in
Rio de Janeiro.
The study was presented at the Radiological
Society of North America 2016 Annual Meeting in Chicago on November 30,2016.[i]
“The 3-D fetal models combined with virtual
reality immersive technologies may improve our understanding of fetal
anatomical characteristics and can be used.
The new technology transforms MRI and ultrasound
data into a 3-D virtual reality model of a fetus. The construction of 3D
accurate virtual model starts with the MRI scanning slices that are than
sequentially stitched together to form a 3-D image. The physician decides the
organ or body part he wants to visualize and that part is
reconstructed including the uterus, placenta, umbilical cord and fetus. At
the beginning of the study the researchers scanned 6 mm "slices"
and put them together, now they scan 1mm slices improving the resolution and
producing more clear pictures.
The Virtual reality 3-D model is very similar to
what a baby would look like after delivery. The doctors can create a very
detailed structure of every organ of the fetal body.
Werner and colleagues turned
to the latest-generation Oculus Rift 2 (Oculus) headset to be used as the virtual reality viewing device. The parents don the device to interact with the baby
in this very real immersive sensory environment. Adding the heartbeat by the
use of headphone brings them further close to the baby. Users can simply
move their heads to study 3D fetal anatomy close-up.
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Oculus device headset
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"The experience with the
Oculus Rift has been wonderful," Werner said. "It provides fetal
images that are sharper and clearer than ultrasound and MR images viewed on a
traditional display." The virtual reality model has an array of
potential applications, including detection of important structural
malformations like cardiac and respiratory. It can also be of great help in
cases requiring intrauterine surgeries. Using the models the team can simulate
the surgeries in virtual reality.
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https://3dprint.com
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