The Transparent Minds: 3D Physical vs 3D Digital Models

The ‘Transparent Minds’ project focused on comparing the use of transparency as a learning tool between 3D physical and 3D digital models. THe focus was on user experience and it is predicted that different target groups, for example students- would prefer the digital modality in comparison to patient education target group who would benefit moe from a physical model. This project aimed to make props for a pilot study by creating anatomically correct 3D digital and 3D physical models from anonymised MRI data. This was done by using the 3D Slicer software for 3D model extraction from patient specific data and the 3D model correction in Z-Brush. Following that, the data was either 3D printed and used to make moulds for casting clear resin sculptures or uploaded to SketchFab. The data was particularly looking at the hippocampus volume in a healthy control brain, and an atrophied hippocampus with lower volume of a brain with the Alzheimer’s Disease. Below are photos from the process..

This project was mentioned in the Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine alongside other final projects from the MSc Medical Art course.