"True" color surface anatomy: mapping the Visible Human to patient-specific CT data.

The mapping of "true" color and texture information into traditional medical imaging modality data can add considerable information and aid in diagnostics. One of the goals of this work has been to create CT color lookup tables for all visually well-defined structures in the Visible Human male cryosection data set which then can be used to color patient-specific CT data. The primary goal has been to develop a method for stripping textures from a volumetric data set for polygonal models and non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) models generated from a volumetric data set. It is believed that these methods can eventually be used to provide clinicians with 3D models with physiologically accurate color textures.

Development of a direct systolic cardiac augmentation device.

A direct systolic cardiac augmentation device, called a heart cuff, has been developed. The device is designed to be placed around a "weakened" heart to improve cardiac function. The heart cuff forcibly squeezes the heart during ventricular systole by rhythmically inflating two balloons; one is placed over the left ventricle and the other over the right ventricle. An outer, adjustable, non-distensible cylindrical shell with a liquid-filled liner (bladder) holds the balloons in place. The conformable outer shell and liner inflation allow the device to fit on several different sized and shaped hearts. A purse-string nylon "dome", which is wrapped around the base of the heart and secured in the atrio-ventricular groove, is used to keep the heart cuff in position during assistance. An intra-aortic balloon pump system is used to apply the alternating positive and negative pressures to the balloons. The timing circuitry contained in the system allows for proper inflation/deflation of the balloons corresponding to the contraction/relaxation of the heart using the ECG. Studies show that the heart cuff is capable of being quickly and easily slipped into position, remain in position, and supplement heart function during assistance on normal beating canine hearts.