Center of Study and Research eDIMES Lab

Activities

3D

• 3D modelingstarting from diagnostic imaging for surgical planning and pre/post-operative volumetric analyses
• 3D printingof anatomical models, CAD/CAM realization of patient-specific devices for supporting the surgical planning and treatment
• Augmented Reality (AR): AR view of 3D models for surgical planning and intraoperative guidance

Computer Vision & AI

• Analysis of minimally invasive surgery images for CAI (Computer Assisted Interventions)
• Machine Learningand Computer Vision approaches to guide surgery through images
• CAD (Computer Aided Diagnosis) – Deep Learning to assist the doctor in diagnosis via images (AI-assisted diagnosis)

Sim-XR

• Advanced trainingbased on simulation and eXtended Reality (XR) technologies
• Development of in silico simulationplatforms for virtual surgical planning, starting from patient-specific anatomies

Aims and Goals:

The eDIMES Lab is the DIMEC technological laboratory created as part of the Departmental Strategic Development Project (PSSD) to enhance advanced research and teaching activities in the areas of Medical Sciences and Biological Sciences, promoting their integration and synergy with the disciplines of Physical Sciences and Bioengineering.

The laboratory, making use of advanced methodologies and technologies such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Simulation, 3D Modeling, Additive Manufacturing, Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence, aims to provide the medical areas within the IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna innovative tools for preoperative planning, for the design of personalized prosthetic devices, for intraoperative guidance and for diagnosis support.

The eDIMES Lab also promotes projects aimed at the development of innovative teaching models and tools, considering medical and surgical training a strategic factor for the development and maintenance of an advanced-level healthcare service based on quality and safety.

Projects

The main projects already started and planned at the eDIMES Lab are related to:

• 3D Modeling and 3D printing of anatomical models for pre-operative planning and communication with the patient in different surgical specialties (e.g. vascular surgery, urological surgery, maxillofacial and ENT surgery, orthopaedics, gynecological surgery, liver and transplant surgery, cardiac surgery)
• Virtual/Mixed Reality applications for pre-operative immersive anatomical exploration, in complex cases of oncological and transplant surgery
• Augmented Reality applications for intraoperative guidance
• Design and development of simulators for surgical training based on patient-specific anatomies of rare and/or complex pathologies
• CAD/CAM realization of patient-specific devices for the optimization of treatment (e.g. cutting guides for oncological resections; personalized devices for radiotherapy; implantable prostheses for oncological reconstructions with optimized designs)
• Development of in silico simulation platforms for virtual surgical planning, starting from patient-specific anatomies
• Study and development of computer vision and machine learning algorithms for the automated implementation of intraoperative navigation assisted by 3D anatomical images, especially in robotic and laparoscopic surgery

Tecnologies

Technologies available at the eDIMES Lab:

• Softwarefor medical image segmentation and 3D modeling:  Mimics Innovation Suite medical (Materialise), 3-Matic medical (Materialise); Mimics Flow (Materialise); Dicom to Print – D2P (Oqton); Freeform (Oqton); Ansys Mechanical and CFD (ANSYS, Inc.); 3DSlicer; FreeCAD
•  3D printers: Form 3, SLA (Formlabs); Form 3B, SLA (Formlabs); Form 3BL, SLA (Formlabs); J720 Dental, Polyjet (Stratasys); Ultimaker S3, FDM (Ultimaker)
•  AR/MR/VR Head-mounted displays: HoloLens 2 (Microsoft); Magic Leap 2 (Magic Leap, Inc.); HTC (Vive); Meta Quest 2 (Meta)
•  3D scanners: Einstar (Shining 3D); FreeScan Combo (Shining 3D)
• Haptic device: Geomagic Touch EDUCATIONAL
•  Virtual microscopy scanner: VS200 (Olympus)
•  Portable US scan: Vscan (GE Healthcare)