Improving radiologists’ and orthopedists’ QoE in diagnosing lumbar disk herniation using 3D modeling

The aim of this study was to assess possible impacts of multiple magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans on the function of InterStim™ sacral neurostimulator systems (SNS; Medtronic Inc.) devices and on patient's safety. Over the course of 17 years, a total of 16 patients required 72 MRI examinations in various parts of the body. Each time an MRI was performed, the implanting urologist evaluated the SNS device function and deactivated the implant before the scan. Patients were monitored continuously during and after the procedure. After the MRI session, the site of the implanted device was examined, and the SNS device was reactivated. None of the patients experienced pain or discomfort during or after the MRI scan. Impedances and stimulation amplitudes were recorded before and after MRI and showed no statistically significant changes regarding implant function. Micturition-time charts after MRI procedures were compared with previous records and showed no deviations either. No negative consequences of multiple MRIs have been observed. This is the first report of patients successfully undergoing multiple MRI scans despite a previously implanted SNS. Sixteen patients underwent more than one MRI scan, with no negative effect on the functional outcome of SNS or negative side effects for the patients.

In recent years, with the improvement of computer processing power and the development of sophisticated visualisation software, the traditional static views of geological maps, cross-sections and other analogue representations have been replaced by digital, three-dimensional (3D) models. Building these 3D models involves the assembly of many previously isolated and disparate datasets into a single 3D spatial framework for visualisation and analysis. This enables the construction of the best possible geological 3D model using all available information. This paper gives examples of how geoscientific understanding has benefited from the construction of 3D models by the British Geological Survey using several examples to illustrate how structural, stratigraphical and sedimentological discovery can result from the construction of 3D models.

3D-technologies are a promising direction in the development of medicine. Numerous publications in recent years demonstrate the potential use of 3D-modeling in disease diagnosis, surgical planning, intraoperative navigation, development of individual implants, and specialist training. In this article, we present the experience of implementing 3D-technologies in the practice of a pediatric surgeon using three clinical cases where the use of 3D models based on computed tomography data allowed for more accurate diagnosis and surgical planning. The first patient was a 3-year-old boy with vascular compression of the left main bronchus and impaired ventilation of the left lung. After 3D-visualization of the area of interest, an arterial ligament causing the compression was visualized as the main cause. The second patient was a 6-month-old boy with confirmed bilateral chondromesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall. The volume and staging of the surgical treatment, as well as the most suitable option for defect replacement, were developed after creating a polymer 3D-model of the child’s chest. The third patient was a 17-year-old girl with persistent hypercalcemia after removal of a parathyroid adenoma. A repeat computed tomography revealed an ectopic parathyroid tissue. The use of 3D-models and AR-technology for intraoperative navigation allowed for precise determination of the location of the pathological tissue. These clinical cases demonstrate the potential and effectiveness of using 3D-modeling in pediatric surgery and confirm that this is a promising direction in the development of medicine, opening up new possibilities for clinicians.

An approach to 3D model fusion in GIS systems and its application in a future ECDIS

When educating dental students or prosthodontic residents, a picture can be worth a thousand words. If that is so, then what could enhanced 3D modeling be worth relative to enhancing student learning? The answer is undoubtedly more than what a picture can provide. That is why the use of 3D models has become increasingly common with respect to patient care. The 3D modeling allows the patient to visualize more clearly the proposed treatments and outcomes; however, while 3D modeling has started to make an appearance in dental education, many of the current 3D modeling techniques do not offer the flexibility needed for dental education and enhanced student learning. At the University of Iowa, the use of 3D modeling software has enabled the creation of 3D models that can be altered or customized to be used in a more flexible way to teach students in the arts and complexities of removable partial denture (RPD) design and associated components. This educational technique article will: (1) demonstrate how these 3D models can be used to enhance student perception and learning regarding RPDs; and (2) will demonstrate using videos and web-based portals to show how the 3D RPD models were created and then used for educational purposes.

This paper considers the use of 3d modeling to quantify the growth of pot holes. These are a common problem around the world and cause problems with the road user and those involved with its maintenance. Assessing the size of a pothole, or being able to understand their growth has not really been considered in the literature. 3D modeling techniques based on stereo photogrammetry were used to quantify 2d and 3d parameters of potholes. The experiment was carried out the laboratory. Roller compacted slabs were prepared and an artificial pothole created on its surface. This was photographed and a 3D model created. The artificial pothole was enlarged and the process repeated. At each stage the actual diameter, circumference and volume of the hole was determined. The 3D models were analyzed using DigitalSurf MountainsMap software. Good correlation was found between parameters from the 3d model and those measured. It is proposed that this method gives a simple and robust method to better understand potholes.

The Management of Cultural Heritage (MCH) is a very complex operation aimed at protecting the physical integrity of CH assets, while promoting their historical value and development of tourism industry. In recent years, the use of digital technologies has become an essential part of the MCH delicate process, but the use of 3D models is still limited to few academic research to date. Furthermore, very few supra-national standard guidelines regulating their use are available to date and the operator who decides to use a 3D model as a basis for management is faced with the scarcity and fragmentation of standards and guidelines.
\nThe aim of the PhD research is to develop guidelines to produce 3D models for MCH, with the purpose to efficiently entry, store and manage digital data. The here provided guidelines investigate every aspect of the process leading from data acquisition to cataloguing and archiving, processing and creation of a simplified information system for the management. In order to elaborate guidelines that could be suitable for as many typologies of CH as possible an international approach was chosen, developing the thesis in joint supervision under the University of Bologna and the Universitat Politècnica de València, and by applying the state-of-the-art technologies of acquisition, processing and use of 3D models to a variety of case studies.
\nThe investigation, by highlighting the problems inherent to the MCH, made it possible to identify the main open issues that need to be explored in future lines of research, such as the application of standards to a large number of cultural assets; the automatic classification of raw data; the processing of collected data for the creation of relations, strategies and methods for the classification, integration and optimisation of heterogeneous data.

Three-dimensional (3D) modeling is increasingly used in hepatobiliary surgery to enhance anatomical understanding and operative planning. However, its impact on oncologic outcomes remains uncertain. This study evaluated whether preoperative 3D liver models influence resection margin status and survival after hepatectomy for malignant disease. In this retrospective case-control study, 59 patients undergoing hepatic resection for malignancy between May 2018 and May 2023 were included. Patients were managed either with patient-specific 3D models (n = 31) or conventional imaging (n = 28). Predictors of R0 resection were analyzed using logistic regression, and overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. R0 resection was achieved in 79.7% of patients, with no significant difference between groups (77.4% vs. 82.1%; p = 0.865). Bilobar tumor distributionadjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00-0.76; p = 0.039) and a higher albumin-bilirubin score (adjusted OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.00-0.46; p = 0.029) were independently associated with lower odds of achieving R0 resection. In multivariable analysis, the use of 3D models was independently linked to improved 2-year DFS (adjusted hazard ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.24-0.92; p = 0.028). Tumor type affected recurrence rates, with hepatocellular carcinoma and other tumors showing a lower risk of recurrence compared to colorectal liver metastases. No significant differences in OS were found. Preoperative 3D modeling was not associated with higher R0 resection rates but was independently associated with improved 2-year DFS. Given the retrospective design and potential residual confounding, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and considered hypothesis-generating pending prospective validation.

Insects are the most diverse group of living organisms on Earth, but their small size and structural complexity make species identification a challenging task, especially for those with less experience in entomology. Accurate identification is essential for pest management decisions in agriculture. Traditional 2D resources, such as field guides and taxonomic keys, may exhibit limitations when depicting complex insect structures, as exemplified by the intricate morphology of insect mouthparts. This study explores the use of 3D models to enhance the learning experience in insect identification and morphology education. We developed an online course that incorporated interactive digital 3D models alongside instructional videos and assessments. Participants (N = 102), primarily undergraduate students in natural sciences, completed pre- and posttests to assess knowledge gains. Additionally, they completed a survey designed to evaluate learning satisfaction, self-efficacy, limitations of the learning tools, and to collect open-ended written feedback. A paired samples t-test revealed a significant increase in posttest scores compared to pretest scores (t = −17.71, P < 0.001). Most participants rated learning satisfaction and self-efficacy above 9 on a 0 to 10-point Likert scale survey. Participants highlighted the effectiveness of 3D models in species differentiation and morphological understanding. Feedback suggested potential improvements, including expanded insect coverage and interactive comparison tools. This study demonstrates that 3D models can significantly enhance insect morphology education, providing an engaging and effective learning tool for students and pest management professionals.

The high prevalence of low back pain has led to an increasing demand for the analysis of lumbar magnetic resonance (MR) images. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a deep-learning-assisted automated system for diagnosing and grading lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration based on lumbar T2-weighted sagittal and axial MR images. This study included a total of 472 patients who underwent lumbar MR scans between January 2021 and November 2023, with 420 in the internal dataset and 52 in the external dataset. The MR images were evaluated and labeled by experts according to current guidelines, and the results were considered the ground truth. The annotations included the Pfirrmann grading of disc degeneration, disc herniation, and high-intensity zones (HIZ). The automated diagnostic model was based on the YOLOv5 network, modified by adding an attention module in the Cross Stage Partial part and a residual module in the Spatial Pyramid Pooling-Fast part. The model's diagnostic performance was evaluated by calculating the precision, recall, F1 score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. In the internal test set, the model achieved precisions of 0.78-0.91, 0.90-0.92, and 0.82 and recalls of 0.86-0.91, 0.90-0.93, and 0.81-0.88 for disc degeneration grading, disc herniation diagnosis, and HIZ detection, respectively. In the external test set, the precision values for disc degeneration grading, herniation diagnosis, and HIZ detection were 0.73-0.87, 0.86-0.92, and 0.74-0.84 and recalls were 0.79-0.87, 0.88-0.91, and 0.77-0.78, respectively. The proposed model demonstrated a relatively high diagnostic and classification performance and exhibited considerable consistency with expert evaluation.

Cardiovascular disease resulting from atypical cardiac structures continues to be a leading health concern despite advancements in diagnostic imaging and surgical techniques. However, the ability to visualize spatial relationships using current technologies remains a challenge. Therefore, 3D modeling has gained significant interest to understand complex and atypical cardiovascular disorders. Moreover, 3D modeling can be personalized and patient-specific. 3D models have been demonstrated to aid surgical planning and simulation, enhance communication among surgeons and patients, optimize medical device design, and can be used as a potential teaching tool in medical schools. In this review, we discuss the key components needed to generate cardiac 3D models. We highlight prevalent structural conditions that have utilized 3D modeling in pre-operative planning. Furthermore, we discuss the current limitations of routine use of 3D models in the clinic as well as future directions for utilization of this technology in the cardiovascular field.

Histology is a challenging educational discipline. It requires studying 2‐dimensional (2D) microscopic sections of tissue and inferring three‐dimensional (3D) organization. Gross anatomical education has benefitted from the burgeoning use of 3D models and images, however, 3D digital models of histological structures have not been developed for educational purposes. To overcome these limitations we have developed a 3D histological model of a renal corpuscle (RC) based on serial histological sections for e‐learning environments. Sprague Dawley rat kidneys were fixed, dehydrated, and embedded in epoxy resin (Embed‐812). Ribbons of serial semi‐thin sections (1μm thick) were obtained using a diamond knife and ultramicrotome. The sections containing the RC (n=179) were digitized and the images were aligned with the 3D visualization software, Amira 5.2, for 3D model development. Key structures of the RC and surrounding tissue were digitally reconstructed via manual segmentation. The resulting digital model allows for the generation of RC images in any plane with resolutions comparable to that of the original images. Users may view digitally generated histological sections in the context of the 3D renal corpuscle, enabling user interactivity and visualization in a variety of 2D or 3D orientations. Future plans for the model include developing an e‐learning module and subjecting it to usability tests.Grant Funding Source: Instructional Innovation and Development Fund (IIDF)

Recent years have witnessed an increasing use of 3D models in general and 3D geometric models specifically of built environment for various applications, owing to the advancement of mapping techniques for accurate 3D information. Depending on the application scenarios, there exist various types of approaches to automate the construction of 3D building geometry. However, in those studies, less attention has been paid to watertight geometries derived from point cloud data, which are of use to the management and the simulations of building energy. To this end, an efficient reconstruction approach was introduced in this study and involves the following key steps. The point cloud data are first voxelised for the ray-casting analysis to obtain the 3D indoor space. By projecting it onto a horizontal plane, an image representing the indoor area is obtained and is used for the room segmentation. The 2D boundary of each room candidate is extracted using new grammar rules and is extruded using the room height to generate 3D models of individual room candidates. The room connection analyses are applied to the individual models obtained to determine the locations of doors and the topological relations between adjacent room candidates for forming an integrated and watertight geometric model. The approach proposed was tested using the point cloud data representing six building sites of distinct spatial confirmations of rooms, corridors and openings. The experimental results showed that accurate watertight building geometries were successfully created. The average differences between the point cloud data and the geometric models obtained were found to range from 12 to 21 mm. The maximum computation time taken was less than 5 min for the point cloud of approximately 469 million data points, more efficient than the typical reconstruction methods in the literature.

Introduction Prostate cancer is the leading cancer in males in the UK and mostly treated via robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). The prognosis of prostate cancer is promising especially if detected early. Studies have shown that the use of 3D patient-specific models has positive effects on surgical outcomes in other fields. This systematic review aims to assess whether 3D printed and virtual models reduce surgical complications for patients undergoing RARP. Methods This study was a systematic review conducted using PRISMA guidelines from comprehensive databases - PubMed and Medline. These were then screened using an inclusion and exclusion criteria, to remove papers that were not relevant to the research question. Last, each abstract was screened for relevancy and duplicates were removed. Results A total of 201 patients had the use of 3D patient-specific modelling of the prostate to aid in surgery. Across all studies, a decrease in positive surgical margin rates was reported, indicating better outcomes for patients. However, no statistically significant difference was found between intervention and control groups, in nerve sparing, bladder neck sparing and postoperative SHIM score. A decrease in detectable PSA was found in intervention groups. Furthermore, the use of 3D models did lead to more surgeons changing the pre-operative plan, suggesting that 3D modelling enhances surgical planning – leading to potentially improved outcomes. Conclusion The use of 3D modelling has positive outcomes for patients undergoing RARP, however, the extent is still unclear as research in this area remains limited.

In this paper we focus our discussion on thermal plasmas created by electric arc. Due to the electrons mobility, the energy transferred by Joule effect to the gas, leads to temperature around 10 000 K. Thermal plasmas are very used in numerous processes like spraying, cutting, welding, waste treatment and are also present in numerous situations such as in interruption systems: high and low voltage circuit breakers or in natural phenomena: lightning strike. In order to be improved, thermal plasma processes necessitate a better understanding of the medium. Numerical modeling is now largely used to analyze and to predict the behavior of arcs and hydrodynamic flows to improve thermal plasma processes. Due to the increase of computer performances and to the availability of commercial computational fluid dynamics codes, the 2D modeling mainly developed in the 80’s and 90’s have been progressively replaced for a few years by 3D models. But is there always a real interest to develop such kind of codes if we consider the increase of accuracy in comparison with the increase of CPU time and the level of the assumptions? In order to give some elements for the discussion, we compare in the first part two physical conditions: one based on the flow injection and the other on the arc attachment, using 2D and 3D models. The legitimacy of the 2D model in then studied. In the second part, we illustrate through example the necessity of the use of 3D models due to complexities in configurations. Finally the difficulty of the 3D models validation is underlined.