[From psfk, where the story includes a 2:05 minute video]

3D Dissection Table Helps Students Explore Rare Medical Cases [Video]

Explore the body like never before with high resolution, life-sized medical images that you can cut, uncut, rotate and label.

Libby Garrett on June 19, 2013. @libby_garrett

The Anatomage Table is the world’s first life-sized 3D interactive virtual dissection table, allowing people to interact with high resolution anatomical models and perform detailed dissections by using a virtual scalpel.

The table features an interactive multitouch screen that allows users to turn, grasp and cut life-sized anatomical models and view the organ structures inside. Digital images can be rotated in any direction, organs can be isolated and view modes can switch back and forth between photorealistic, X-ray and opaque hard tissue options. Helping users make sense of what they are seeing from varying angles, an annotation feature identifies organs and anatomical details with labels that move with the body as it is turned around and cut.

The interactive design and breakthrough visualization levels allow for new possibilities in the clinical and educational setting.  MRI and CT scans, for example, can be loaded onto the table, creating one-to-one, life-sized 3D visualizations based on real patient data.  Where incisions made during human cadaver dissections cannot be undone, Anatomage Table dissections can be cut, uncut, recut and cut again to view real anatomy from infinite angles.

In addition to creating new and exciting educational experiences, the Anatomage Table also hints at emerging opportunities to enhance their patient and fitness client experiences with life-sized, highly interactive anatomical information.

Created by Silicon Valley-based 3D medical tech company Anatomage, the Anatomage Table has been developed via a partnership with Stanford’s Division of Clinical Anatomy.