News Stories

HealthFirst: 3D in the operating room (video)

3.26.2011

[Leslie Toldo, abclocal.go.com]

We’ve all seen 3D being used in the movies and on TV, and it can be just as cool in the operating room.

Even when they can’t get to the water, David Kuncas and his son still make time to practice the fundamentals of fishing. David had to put his hobby on hiatus after being hit with constant back pain, sleep apnea and carpal tunnel. His weight fluctuated 60 pounds.

“I was exhausted. I had no energy. Everything was just falling apart in my life,” Kunca said.

The doctor diagnosed him with a rare disease known as acromegaly, the same disease that caused wrestling star Andre the Giant to grow. Doctors found 16 times the normal amount of growth hormone in David’s body, caused by a pea-sized tumor in his pituitary gland.

“Tiny little thing was killing me,” Kunca said.

Neurosurgeons at the University of Pennsylvania were able to help David by using a new procedure called three-dimensional endoscopic brain surgery.

“The 3D helps me to be safer with resection around critical structures,” said Dr. John Y.K. Lee, neurosurgeon from the University of Pennsylvania hospital system.

Using the same technology that helped Avatars jump through the screen at the movies, surgeons insert a 3D endoscope through a patient’s nose. Then, when they put on polarized glasses, they see a 3D view of the brain.

“We don’t have monsters jumping out at us during surgery, but it is a very similar technology,” Lee said.

Surgeons were able to remove the tumor without damaging the brain or the optic nerves. Now, Dave Kuncas is getting better every day and looking forward to a little spring fishing.

“I’m going to have this boat, and I’m going to be taking this little guy out,” Kuncas said.

Dr. Lee said he has heard reports of surgeons becoming slightly dizzy during a 3D operation, but he and his colleagues have not had any negative effects during training or during actual operations.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Cathy Malloy, Surgery Coordinator Office of Dr. John Y.K. Lee University of Pennsylvania Health System (215) 829-5189 Catherine.Malloy@uphs.upenn.edu

See the original story here: http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/health&id=8034611

< PREVIOUS ARTICLES NEXT ARTICLES >

Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

Oops, something went wrong.