Virtual Reality Surgical Simulations Using Fusion Three-Dimensional Images.

In this section, we defined virtual reality(VR)surgical simulations using fusion three-dimensional(3D)images, which are 3D images created by fusing multiple medical image data. The more detailed the fusion of 3D images, the more knowledge and effort are required. In addition, 3D fusion images vary greatly with each case and depend on the skill and orientation of the image creator and the image processing software used. Some creators produce a fused 3D image with ample details to simulate tissue deformation, whereas others are limited to rough observations and use two-dimensional cross-sectional images for detailed anatomical information. Thus, there is no gold standard for creating fused 3D images or VR surgical simulations. Therefore, it is important to clarify the objective of a VR surgical simulation. An understanding of image-processing technology is useful in terms of software selection and image-processing efficiency. This section outlines the construction of fused 3D images and the use of VR surgical simulations based on actual clinical applications.