TECH

Scarcity of corpses in medical universities can be solved with virtual models

At the Medical University of Montpellier in France, a group of researchers is using virtual corpses to solve a problem affecting almost all educational institutions in this sector: scarcity.Human corpses are a study material highly requested by schools and laboratories, but with the growth of industry, which has led to the multiplication of research and analysis programs, the shortage is reaching a critical point. According to The Economist, one of the reasons for the lack of bodies is the improvement of communication channels and technological systems, which not only reduce the number of corpses to be reclaimed but also facilitate their identification. In addition, donation is an uncommon practice in much of the world, and the ideal cadaver for study, which, according to experts, corresponds to a young, healthy and intact profile, is very difficult to find.
Guillaume Captier, surgeon and professor at the University of Montpellier, believes that virtual models can serve to teach the basics of dissection to students. To cope with the shortage, real corpses must be introduced at a later stage.



With the help of a 3D scanner, Captier and a team of researchers are digitizing several corpses to replicate parts of the human body in a program that can be applied in medical education. To date, two virtual dissecting contents have been created: one for the neck area and one for the pelvis. For each of these areas, the team was forced to dissect a real corpse through eight layers of organic tissue. Each was individually digitized and articulated into a final model that can now be used to replicate the process.The team wants to follow the project with the creation of virtual models for the thighs and hands. By the end of 2018, the university hopes to have eight ready-to-use scans.

Sapo