SOFTWARE OVERVIEW

What is True Life Anatomy?

True Life Anatomy (TLA) is desktop software that provides interactive access to real-time 3D, animated images of a patient’s injury at the bedside, in the clinic, or even in the operating theatre. TLA combines state-of-the-art 3D animation tools that are typically used in video animation applications, with conventional anatomical imaging (CAT scans) to give a real-time view of bone and surrounding tissue. Radiologists and treating clinicians can conveniently view an injury and manipulate the image on a standard desk top computer to show a patient or a medical team accurately what has happened and what is being planned.

TLA represents a significant advance on existing imaging technology, which previously was restricted to dedicated CAT scanner high-powered workstations in a radiology facility. TLA requires only a current desktop and no specialized skills.

By harnessing and developing the capabilities of Surface (threshold) Rendering (SR), True Life Anatomy has created a suite of imaging tools that create a true 3D object and crosses this image-sharing impasse. Using thresholding of the scan data points, a surfaced geometric 3D object is created, and it is this object that can now be saved. Multiple objects can be created from the same data set to visualize skin, muscle and bone, and then be saved as a single 3D object. Using an array of graphics tools, individual components in the object can be segmented to allow true 3D interactivity and manipulation.

Who funds this technology?

3D imaging and printing can provide significant advances in patient diagnosis, treatment planning and care delivery – but at a potentially big cost. 3D printing, computer technicians and in house management requirements all add cost.

However, TLA uses existing funding resources within the patient care axis – but still provides greater 3D capabilities and avoids inherent cost of other platforms and options. TLA has a UNIQUE DELIVERY PATHWAY that uses existing skills, uses current funding resources and enhances the patient care axis.

The imaging provider acquires and uses the TLA Generator program to create the 3D models from the scan data which can then can be exported to the referring clinician via a PACS / network or via a specially designed high capacity USB card. The USB data card contains all the required applications and 3D manipulation tools for secondary segmentation and virtual surgery by the referring clinician.

The Forward USB interface utilizes a CD emulation (CDE) to allow access to controlled platforms and networks, and using a secure file format, 3D prosthesis data can be imported into the virtual surgery environment.

For sales and trial access, contact RuBaMAS – Distributor of True Life Anatomy Technology.

How is TLA different?

Unlike most of the current Radiology based 3D imaging software used today, which in reality can only produce a 2D picture of the 3D scan data, TLA creates a true 3D object that can be manipulated, segmented and modified.

Try asking your current software provider to do this!!

Why would you want to do this?

This indicates that an actual 3D object has been created that can be manipulated, saved and sent to the referring clinician not just the 2D image of the 3D scan data that most software can provide. The Radiologist or Technician does not need to guess the relevant view or orientation required. The referring clinician can select the required view as the 3D image can be reviewed and manipulated remote from the radiology department on their own PC. Such functionality can be used for:

• Improved diagnosis
• Virtual surgery and trial fracture reduction
• 3D arthroplasty templating
• Patient demonstration and education
• Research and teaching

TLA software is designed to complement and add functionality to existing 3D imaging packages by providing actual 3D models to the clinician’s PC to allow interactive viewing and accurate patho-anatomical assessment and measurement.

TRUE LIFE ANATOMY technology features

• Referral Market attractive
  True 3D image sharing with the referring doctor Clinically compatible format
  Accessible for patient instruction
  Specially designed clinician friendly interface
• Requires modest investment
  PC based Economical software
  Minimal technician up-skilling required
• Existing Network compatible
  PACS compatible / DICOM Compliant
  3D files can be saved as TLA format (.tla) or DICOM (.dcm) No specific additional networking requirements Compresses slice data to facilitate storage
• Web capable
  File compression and integration allows online access Allows remote access to referring clinician Configured to allow secure download facility access
• Expanded Clinician capability
  Secondary object manipulation using TLA Generator Virtual surgery
  Better spatial appreciation for the surgeon, and improve patient education
  Trial fracture reduction and Arthroplasty templating
  Patient instruction
  Portability of data
  PC based and thus economical installation
• Radiological empowerment
  Better and interactive 3D image provision, and control of the initial image creation by Improved image access on network and PACS Embedded export file format.

Advantages for the Radiologist:

Modest investment means a predictable return on investment. Because of the increasing numbers of slices generated from multi receptor slice scanners, it is becoming difficult to review adequately the entire data set. The larger numbers of slices have advantages such as:

• Better MIP
• Reformats
• 3D image creation

The large slice number however creates problems such as:

• Large data set memory issues
• Storage
• Slice sharing and presentation
• Large file size for export to referring doctor

TLA makes the most of the large number of slices to create a high-quality 3D image that is then decimated to usable and visually adequate size. This maximizes the usefulness of the fine multiple slices, but then packages the data in a usable form. Volume averaging issues are reduced by the thin slice overlapping slices maximizing the option of creating an automatically segmented image. When saved to a tla or DICOM format, there is integration of the 3D and 2D image information for ready reference.

TLA software provides significant advancement to your current imaging capability by making the most of the data creation, by providing the referring clinicians with an attractive imaging capability, and by allowing post processing to be done by the people who are most aware of the clinical requirements the referring clinician.

• Virtually all diagnostic imaging is ultimately paid for by the patient (including through their taxes or insurance), as these studies are an essential part of their medical care.
• Those patients typically give their clinician the responsibility to order the most appropriate investigations to achieve this outcome.
• True Life Anatomy Technology empowers the radiologist to provide the most effective display of such imaging data and delivers to the clinician the capability to make the most of the diagnostic studies to improve the management, education and outcome of the patient.
• Providing true interactive 3D image access imparts an increased diagnostic and therapeutic capability that film cannot offer – creating enormous advantages to digital image data access and facilitating the move to film-less in a way beneficial and essential to the referring clinician.
• True Life Anatomy Technology improves the accessibility of diagnostic imaging data to the patient treatment axis, and as such this benchmark capability may become an expectation by the referring clinician.