Barco to deliver world's first multi-purpose Holospace for medical imaging at CAESAR
Barco is proud to announce it has been chosen to deliver the complete visualization part of the unique, multi-purpose VR-center for simulation and 3D visualization at the Research Center ‘caesar’ (Center of Advanced European Studies And Research) in Bonn. The Virtual Reality center - being installed till end of this summer, with SGI as a main contractor - will offer scientists a collaborative immersive environment to visualize and analyze large sets of data in active stereo, rear-projected on 7 segments of 2.5 by 2.5m. These segments can be placed in various configurations, ranging from a flat-screen CADWall to a highly immersive 5-sided cubic I-Space environment.
“We were very pleased with the assignment of this infrastructural solution, which has no equal in the field of university scientific research”, explains François Montoya, general manager Barco Simulation, Germany “as it brings into its own Barco’s expertise and capabilities to deliver complex custom designed integrated immersive visualization solutions, from analysing the application over consulting and concept engineering to on site installation and integration, including training and service.”
‘4-in-One’: The multi-segment virtual environment at ‘caesar’ enables 4 configuration types: -a 2 segment 5m wide stereoscopic CADWall ,
-a 4-segment L-Shape or Holobench, by adding 2 floor segments,
-a 5-segment cubic-wide stereoscopic environment by adding a side-wall,
-and a 5-sided immersive I-Space room-like environment for highest immersion.
Seven Barco Galaxy DLP™ projectors produce the active stereo images (1280 x 1024 pixels per segment) on each of the seven segments– including the floor and ceiling, while also taking care of the soft edge blending between the segment images, making every configuration into one huge stereoscopic immersive environment. When working in a team, scientists enter a ‘house’-like environment of 2.5m deep, 2.5m high and 5m wide, situated in a two-floor high room. The floor is made of a 2-ton glass plate, allowing for up to 10 users at a time. Mirrors fold the light path of the rear-projected images allowing to reduce the exterior space needed.
First running application scenarios concentrate on “Computer-Aided Surgery” and “Medical Imaging”. New software methods and visualization procedures are researched to generate 3D Models of patients with the help of Medical Imaging. These models will allow pre-operative studies with expert teams to prepare the real chirurgical operation. This will enable the doctors at the operation table to perform more complex chirurgical operations with greater accuracy and efficiency. The center will also be used for research in Material Science, Nanotechnology, Biosensorial and Molecular Biology. Fast and easy reconfiguration of the system, is very important to support the fluent multifunctional use of the system.
“The expertise of Barco, including project consulting, analysis and design of the visualization installation with projectors, proprietary developed screens and fast and easy reconfigurable mechanical construction, was essential for the successful realization of this unique project” states Volker Starck, SGI, Business Development Manager, Immersive Solutions ”The result Barco achieved corresponds entirely with the high demands of quality for medical and scientific research. The VR-installation at ‘caesar’ offers high resolution, high contrast and brightness, good color uniformity, a well-balanced color depth and excellent soft edge blending over the total system including all segments. “
The challenge is that the surgeons can now try to improve the planning for reconstructive surgery and combine multiple operations into one single procedure. By creating an immersive environment for virtual surgery, the surgeon is armed with detailed, three-dimensional views of patients’ physiologies. The benefits to his patients are manifold: improved function, improved appearance, fewer operations and less time spent in the hospital.
Dr. Erwin Keeve, head of the Surgical Systems Lab and the driving force behind the investment in this new visualization infrastructure: “Real operations are of course not taking place at ‘caesar’. However, with the new immersive VR-center, ‘caesar’ opens possibilities to develop new concepts for pre-operative simulation and intra-operative navigation techniques, which will accelerate advanced procedures and technologies, this might result in new patent treatment and will widen the range of application areas.”
About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, is active in three key areas of imaging technology. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco has a network of subsidiaries, distributors and agents in almost 100 countries. Barco is quoted on Brussels/Euronext and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company.
For more information, please contact
Els
Van Loocke
Marketing Communications Manager
Barco Presentation&Simulation
Telephone
+32 56 368667
contact.bps@barco.com
