An interactive digital brain was developed using the Visible
Human Project's
photographic images of cryosections of the brain and their
corresponding
axial magnetic resonance (MR) images and computed tomography (CT)
images
(Figure 1). There are three sets of MR
scans
(i.e. T1 weighted, T2 weighted and proton density weighted
images) in the
data set that were used in the atlas. In addition to the existing
axial
images of the cryosections, sagittal and coronal images were
generated to
provide multidimensional views of the anatomic structures in the
brain.
The program currently runs on the Macintosh platform and has a
graphical
user interface that supports a user interaction with various 2D
and 3D representations
of the brain
(Figure 2). A simultaneous display of
multiple
images and motion sequences of the 3D
brain provides
an important link between 2D brain slices and volume rendered 3D
anatomic
structures.
In order to create the 3D rendered images, the brain was
segmented by manual
tracing, thresholding, and morphological algorithms. The
segmented data
was then rendered using volumetric rendering tools on a Silicon
Graphics
Workstation. The development methods and techniques of this atlas
demonstrate
the use of a high -end computer to develop complex images and the
ability
to export the output to other platforms (e.g. Macintosh). This
atlas can
be used as a model for the development of other Computer Assisted
Instruction
(CAI) applications using the Visible Human data set.
Reference
Toh M, Falk RB, Main JS, Interactive Brain Atlas Using the
Visible Human
Project Data: Development Methods and Techniques, Radiographics,
1996; 16:1201-1206
Spitzer V, Ackerman MJ, Schersinger AL, Whitlock D, The Visible
Human Male:
a technical report. J AM Med Inform Assoc 1996; 3:118-130.
Motion Sequences (QuickTime
Animations)
1. 3D whole brain (4,148K)
2. Sagittal view (621K)
3. Coronal view (706K)
4. Top view (1,233K)
5. Bottom view (1,301K)
