Msc Informatique, Synthèse d’Images et
Conception Graphique (ISICG) with
direction Internet and Multimedia
Technologies
Joint Master Programme by TEI of Athens,
Greece, and the University of Limoges
A.Tsoukalis, G.Loudos
Dept of Biomedical Technology Engineering
TEI Athens
What’s Biomedical Engineering(BME) ?

Biomedical engineering (BME) is the
application of engineering principles and
design concepts to medicine and
biology for healthcare purposes.
* for example diagnostic or therapeutic*
What’s Biomedical Engineering(BME) ?

This field seeks to close the gap
between engineering and medicine.

It combines the design and problem
solving skills of engineering with medical
and biological sciences, in order to
advance health care treatment, including:
Diagnosis Monitoring , and Therapy.
Why 3d-Visualisation for biomedical
engineering systems is viable and
necessary ?
Categories that 3D development in
BME is viable and necessary:

Education (Academic + Professional)

Advertisement/Marketing

System installation in medical
environment(Topology)

Engineering Design Options in industry(try out
different Setups/Geometries for no cost)
Education

Using 3D and virtual reality environments as
part of training methodology allows
students
or
application
specialists
(workforce) to experience an entirely new
side of training.

Real life scenarios can be implemented as :
normal functioning , maintenance and quality
Control.
Education

BME students or application specialists can
be trained and evaluated on the physical
principles on which the functionality of
medical equipment is based.

This type of technology breathes life back
into traditional computer based learning
and re-awakens the enthusiasm in users
who are used to this technology in other
circles outside of training.
Advertisement/Marketing

Combination of high-end technology
and creativity can give an opportunity for
a reboot to the marketing problem
many companies are facing.

Interactive
Combination
of
3D
geometries, internet marketing is an
effective commercial strategy.
System installation in Medical
environment

Simulation of system Motion and
Location according to it’s environment
can prevent non expectable errors in the
biomedical engineering field of technology

As an example: possible collisions with
surrounding geometries in order to avoid
system installation fail
Engineering Design Options in
Industry

Simulation/Modeling gives the opportunity
for system designers to test different
design options.

So design specifications are met by using
virtual prototypes rather than physical
experiments.

X-ray Scanner , Computed Tomography(CT)

Positron Emission Tomography (PET- Modality)
Aim of the Project

The development of a virtual laboratory,
which describes 10 medical instruments of
biomedical engineering and their related
physical processes.
Project Requirements for
(VILBE)
Educational tool - Easy to use- User
friendly
 Accessible via internet – browser/web app
 Self-guidance through the 3d world
 Interaction with the system environment

Advantages of Blender in this
Project
• Compatibility with other apps(flexible)
through exports .
• Python (Object oriented language)
• Open Source !!!
• User Friendly GUI / Easy to Learn-Use
• Interactive Blender Community
• High End Capabilities for Graphics/ Realistic
Models
Workflow/ Methodology of the
Project part by part

Achieving a well “in depth” knowledge of
biomedical engineering machines, since
they are composed from a large variety of
different parts of different scale.
Workflow/ Methodology of the
Project part by part

Achieving a well “in depth” knowledge of
biomedical engineering machines, since
they are composed from a large variety of
different parts of different scale.
Workflow/ Methodology of the
Project

Starting with the smaller and most
complicated parts, the first geometrical
approach is done in blender , using basic
meshes and curves.
Workflow/ Methodology of the
Project
Finally the complete mesh is exported in .3ds
form so it can be applied as class .as3 to be
developed in flash code, in order to have an
interactive geometry with output results in a
database (website). i) A realistic MRI for clinical
use
 ii)Basic Geometry of the machine in Blender
 iii) After the export, in flash code, in the fully
interactive web browsing application

Workflow/ Methodology of the
Project
A realistic MRI for clinical use
 Basic Geometry of the system in Blender
 After the export, in flash code, in the fully interactive
web browsing application

Results !
Results !
Results !

Some of the most complicated machines are now
interactive, by being separated to partitions, so
we can peer though the exterior and take a look
into the interior side.

In addition there is a “turn based” disappearing
tool , in which part by part can be explained or in
exercises take a form of data.
Future Plans

Make it a stand alone Blender project (Game
engine)

Expand the variety of the systems (requires
feedback , knowledge basis from engineers and a
funding )
Future Plans

At this stage the Virtual Lab is an educational tool ,
but it can be upgraded-expanded to a professional/
commercial specific implementation for anyone’s
needs. ( F.e. Chemistry – physics visualization).
Acknowledgements
G.Loudos ( Organizer)
 Blender Community – Tutorials Guides
 Creators of Blender
 Institution (Technological Educational Institute of
Athens) – Establishment

References of our work

http://medisp.bme.teiath.gr/vlab/ (site being
updated)

http://www.bme.teiath.gr/ni/EnglishVersion/nuc_e
ngl.html
Thank you for your patience !