Examples of Award-Winning Projects
 
"Visual information in health education greatly enhances the impact of textual or spoken messages. The Frank Netter Award is an appropriate recognition of the legacy of a creative and innovative medical artist and is given only to recipients who emulate the skills and the spirit of Frank Netter whose name is synonymous with only the superlatives in medical illustration."
C. Everett Koop, MD ScD
 

3D Computer Generated Anatomical Libary

3D wireframe heart, partially rendered Visible Productions creates unique anatomical models based on the National Library of Medicine's Visible Human dataset. Three-dimensional models are constructed from MRI and CT scans. Models can be rotated and include internal anatomy as well as external anatomy. Some applications of the models allow viewers to see anatomical structures from the inside. The addition of motion allows the viewer to have the sensation of traveling through structures such as the airways. These models have been used in numerous applications where anatomical accuracy is of primary importance.

On the right, a wireframe model of the heart, partially rendered.

 

The Glass Horse Project
Glass Horse showing internal organs The Glass Horse Project is an innovative interactive program on CD that uses virtual three-dimensional models to demonstrate normal equine anatomy and simulate the development of diseases. Developed by a team of veterinarians, computer graphic artists, and an educational technologist, this product uses high quality graphics to take the viewer inside the body to view internal organs that are the most common sites of debilitating disease and injury.
Understanding complex three-dimensional relationships is one of the biggest challenges in medicine. The Glass Horse allows users to rotate models and examine spatial relationships among essential tissues. In addition, animations demonstrate changes over time as organs transform from normal healthy tissues to disease states. These animations are a significant improvement over traditional educational materials that are limited to images on paper and do not demonstrate the progression of pathological development. As well as educating veterinary students, this product allows horse owners to have an increased awareness of diseases and seek early treatment for common ailments.
 

Anatomy Revealed

There is no doubt that anatomy of the head and neck is complex. The Anatomy Revealed CD makes this subject easier to comprehend by putting students in control of their own learning. Users select how they want to visualize structures: by dissection or a variety of radiological imaging techniques. When an item is selected, it is highlighted and seen in relation to surrounding tissues. In the dissection view, there is a slider control that can be used to visualize structures superficial or deep to the identified feature. Interacting with the dissection gives a viewer the sense of being able to dissolve and replace layers of tissue. This capability facilitates understanding complex three-dimensional relationships.
In addition to an excellent dissection, structures are accompanied by written information that provides pertinent details such as muscle origin and insertion as well as innervation and action.
Illustration of Synapse Other valuable components of the CD include two clinical movies depicting nerve pathology, animations demonstrating actions of four muscles, and a self assessment quiz.
By virtue of being non-linear, users can easily move to any topic they want to investigate.

 

Self Directed 'Hands-On' Skills Training Series in Conjunction with Soft Tissue Simulation
Soft Tissue Simulation Trainer
Limbs & Things has developed a line of products that have shown the world that structured and staged learning and examination is a reality, and that when the procedure is carried out on models which afford realistic skin, connective layers, fluid flow, unexpected situations and surprises, the level of learning is very high. When this system of hands-on training is linked with the didactic and visual possibilities of a CD ROM and tele-medicine, the opportunities for education and distance learning are huge.

Medical education has undergone, and is still undergoing a complete revolution. Multi-disciplinary training units offer students well directed programs of courses and self-learning packages. Models and simulation form a vital part of this movement. It is only when the materials perform in a convincing way and the dynamics of the model enable the ergonomic requirements of the procedure, that training can be achieved to the required level away from the patient.