Visualization of the human body toward the navigation diagnosis with the virtualized human body

In this article we present the visualization of the human body basing upon the X-ray CT and MR images. Topics and examaples of images rendered by the computer are all selected from the studies in the authors’ laboratory during about twenty years. Topics are classified into four groups. First we introduce a few historical pictures of cross section images, and the surface of bones and the skull. Second, the selected pictures in the surgical simulation system NUCSS (=Nagoya University Craniofacial Surgical Simulation system) we developed are shown. This system was for the simulation of the craniofacial surgery of the skull and the orthopedic surgery of the hip joint. This was the pioneering work which showed the potential of computer aid in surgery based upon 3D CT images about ten years in advance of the present rapid extention of the computer aided surgery. One of the earliest work to visualize the performance of the soft tissue — rendering of the cut skin is also included. Third, the virtualized endoscope system is presented in detail. The images of both the inside and the outside view of the bronchus, the vessel and the stomach are shown here with the introduction to the new concept of the navigation diagnosis. Finally the navigation through an Egyptian mummy is added.