Abstract
BackgroundThere is a need for innovative anatomic teaching tools. This paper describes a three dimensional (3D) tool employing the Microsoft Kinect™. Using this instrument, 3D temporal bone anatomy can be manipulated with the use of hand gestures, in the absence of mouse or keyboard.MethodsCT Temporal bone data is imported into an image processing program and segmented. This information is then exported in polygonal mesh format to an in-house designed 3D graphics engine with an integrated Microsoft Kinect™. Motion in the virtual environment is controlled by tracking hand position relative to the user’s left shoulder.ResultsThe tool successfully tracked scene depth and user joint locations. This permitted gesture-based control over the entire 3D environment. Stereoscopy was deemed appropriate with significant object projection, while still maintaining the operator’s ability to resolve image details. Specific anatomical structures can be selected from within the larger virtual environment. These structures can be extracted and rotated at the discretion of the user. Voice command employing the Kinect’s™ intrinsic speech library was also implemented, but is easily confounded by environmental noise.ConclusionThere is a need for the development of virtual anatomy models to complement traditional education. Initial development is time intensive. Nonetheless, our novel gesture-controlled interactive 3D model of the temporal bone represents a promising interactive teaching tool utilizing a novel interface.
Highlights
Three-dimensional (3D) virtual imagery can be an important tool for understanding the spatial relationships between distinct anatomical structures
Medical students still learn the anatomy of this region primarily through illustrated texts, many of which have been in print for decades [6,7,8], but the dissection of the temporal bone itself is usually limited to senior trainees, largely due to the relative scarcity of available samples for practicing operative approaches
In this paper we describe a novel gesture-controlled 3D teaching tool in which the three dimensional temporal bone anatomy is manipulated with the use of hand gestures through a Microsoft KinectTM, in the absence of mouse and keyboard
Summary
Three-dimensional (3D) virtual imagery can be an important tool for understanding the spatial relationships between distinct anatomical structures. This is relevant in regions for which the classical dissection technique has limitations. Users may interact in a natural way with the model, moving it by grasping it with a hand or altering it by cutting or drilling with a tool [10,28]. This paper describes a three dimensional (3D) tool employing the Microsoft KinectTM. Using this instrument, 3D temporal bone anatomy can be manipulated with the use of hand gestures, in the absence of mouse or keyboard
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