3D ‘atlas’ of human body published

Physical book generates holograms

Visualisation company Holoxica has created the world’s first holographic 3D digital human anatomy atlas, allowing teaching hospitals, medical schools, colleges and research centres a unique view of intricate anatomical structures.

The atlas is a collaboration between Holoxica and Professor Gordon Findlater, Professor of Translation Anatomy at Edinburgh University’s School of Biomedical Sciences.

The atlas is a book, with physical pages that you can turn, and an integrated light. The light is used to
bring out the holographic images in full-colour 3D. The hologram is explained on the opposite page using conventional 2D illustrations.

The image data used to create the atlas has been sourced from CT, MRI, ultrasound scans and specially created 3D models to replicate a true three-dimensional understanding of the underlying anatomy.
Dr Javid Khan, Holoxica’s chief executive, said that biomedical science now has access to a tool which gives trainee surgeons and clinicians a fresh perspective into identifying, diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions like never before.

“Medical students have often struggled with a deeper understanding of the relative positioning of complex anatomical structures. This is the level of pinpoint accuracy and detailed precision which the 3D digital atlas offers.”

Holoxica hopes the atlas will be used by universities around the world as a teaching aid for first and second year medical and anatomy students. For them, the challenge is understanding the true 3D nature of the underlying anatomy, so solving this issue will save considerable time and effort.