Improving measurement techniques through a virtual reality  application for complex cardiac treatment

Guilherme Mariano Silva Francisco

Key information

Authors:

Guilherme Mariano Silva Francisco (Guilherme Mariano Silva Francisco)

Supervisors:

Daniel Simões Lopes (Daniel Simões Lopes); Sérgio Miguel Matoso Laranjo

Published in

November 18, 2024

Abstract

Complex cardiac diseases, such as congenital heart disease, require a deep understanding of the intricate anatomy involved so that surgeons can perform procedures that preserve healthy structures adjacent to tissue defects. Currently, this is achieved either through physical measurements using specialized equipment, such as hegar based method, or by interpreting 2D images, which can be challenging due to the inherently 3D nature of the problem. In this thesis, we present and describe an open-source proof-of-concept VR application that enables doctors to make measurements in various ways, clip the contents of the model, explore the interior of the heart, view DICOM images, and manipulate the model (rotate, scale, and move) using controllers. We also outline a study design for evaluating this application with doctors. We believe that this prototype can potentially reduce the time required to understand complex heart diseases and increase the accuracy of measurements taken. Finally, the complete demonstration of the prototype can be found on Youtube by the following link: \url{https://youtu.be/U2nSuAB95VU}.