Virtual Autopsy Table Extends Anatomical Education

A virtual autopsy table provides life size visualization of full body anatomy, which could help change the way anatomy is taught in medical schools.

The Anatomage virtual dissection table delivers a realistic virtual cadaver with accurate anatomic details. The form factor of the Table allows students to replicate a true operating table experience, using realistic interactive visualization of human three-dimensional (3D) anatomies. The virtual patient is recumbent as students stand beside the table and interact with it, rotating or completely changing the view with the swipe of a finger. Students can also cut the body, peel off soft tissue, or remove an organ with finger gestures, and unlike cadavers, the students can redo and undo the dissection again and again.

The Table also allows students to visualize skeletal tissues, muscles, organs, and soft tissue. These various tissues and views can be customized by virtually slicing, layering, and segmenting the anatomy, adding a new dimension of depth to the education that students receive. Custom annotations can be easily added by the students to the visualizations of anatomical structures. With the flexible annotation tools, medical schools and institutions can create innovative programs, quizzes, and new methods of study.

The Table comes with a full body gross anatomy model rendered from computerized tomography (CT) scan data that is fused with anatomically accurate, textured surface models for educational purposes. The Table can also open any data from any CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound scanners. Additional photographic images, or even full presentations, can also be displayed on the Table. In addition, by incorporating physical instruments into a curriculum, the Table provides a medium for simulating operation procedures in a natural and intuitive manner.

The Table hardware is based on a liquid crystal display (LCD) high-contrast screen with a 3,960 x 1,080 resolution. Optical touch interactive sensors are used for image manipulation, which can be used with a finger or a stylus. Around a dozen people can easily stand around and comfortably interact with each other and the Table at the same time. If needed, it can be moved to a different room on rollers that can be locked into a position. The Anatomage virtual dissection table is a product of Anatomage (San Jose, CA, USA).

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