Dear AuntMinnie Member,
In the Star Trek television series, characters frequently used a virtual environment called a holodeck to simulate various environments for training and education purposes. Could the same concept be used in radiology?
While it isn't quite virtual reality, a simulation program developed by researchers from Southern Illinois University places radiology residents in a virtual reading room. Participants start by hitting the worklist, but they also have to cope with a variety of interruptions and emergencies that test how they might respond in the real world.
The idea was presented at this week's American College of Radiology (ACR) conference in Washington, DC -- learn more about it by clicking here.
In other coverage from ACR 2017, researchers from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School discussed their program for making radiologists more active. Find out how it works by clicking here. A new toolkit designed to help radiologists improve their patient engagement skills was also released -- find out about that by clicking here.
A new use for 3D printing
So far, most of the studies about 3D printing have focused on using the technology to make patient-centered structures, such as models of organs or implants. But a group from Brigham and Women's Hospital has shown that 3D printing also can be used to craft customized tools that radiologists can use in interventional studies.
Brigham researchers wanted to modify F-Spoon, a commercially available paddle for CT-guided interventional procedures. So they scanned the device, made changes to the digital file using computer-aided design software, and then output the modified paddle using a 3D printer.
How well did the 3D-printed paddle work? You'll have to click here to find out, for a new article in our Advanced Visualization Community.
David Cosgrove dies
Finally, we're saddened to report the death of one of the giants of ultrasound, Dr. David Cosgrove of the U.K., who passed away last week at the age of 78. We offer a review of his distinguished career and his accomplishments in an article you can read by clicking here.
