Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV)
Visualisation has become one of LiU’s strongest profile areas during the past 10 years, with the world’s first virtual autopsy table being one result of the research. The multidisciplinary research is based at the Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), created in 2002 at Linköping University Hospital. This is a meeting place for medicine and technology. Driving forces behind the centre were LiU, what was at the time the Östergötland County Council, and medical technology company Sectra. Several companies contribute equipment and expertise.
The researchers at the centre, led by its director Anders Persson, work to improve the diagnosis and treatment of several diseases. As the technological development of magnet resonance imaging, computer tomography and ultrasound progress, increasing amounts of information are generated that can be used in many contexts. It becomes possible, for example, for doctors to study three-dimensional, interactive images of patients in their own desk-top computers, to make diagnoses and prepare for surgery.
Virtual reality theatre
A virtual reality theatre is installed at CMIV in 2005. This enables medical data to be visualised in real time with computer tomographs, magnet resonance cameras, and digital image banks connected to it, together with all the workstations and computers in the division. Thousands of people from universities, hospitals, schools and the general public have visited the theatre, as have several TV companies. The research at CMIV has also resulted in a virtual autopsy table. While a traditional post mortem can take several days, a virtual equivalent can be completed in as little as 20 seconds, and is a useful supplement to the physical post mortem. The table has aroused considerable attention all over the world, and was demonstrated at the World Expo in Shanghai. It was launched as a commercial product at a trade fair in Chicago at the end of 2010. The final stage of the development had been carried out in collaboration with Sectra, who also managed the launch.
Siemens Medical Solutions, Philips Medical AB, Bayer Schering Pharma and Sectra AB have all contributed equipment and expertise to CMIV during the past 10 years. All companies are leading actors within medical technology.
Research in the field has progressed apace, and development continues.
