Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Doctors to look inside patients by using 3-D computer images

Celia Hall
Tuesday 01 June 1993 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A THREE-DIMENSIONAL image of the patient's body on an operating theatre television screen will soon become as common as X-rays on a light box, a leading plastic surgeon said yesterday, writes Celia Hall.

Gus McGrouther, professor of reconstructive surgery at University College Hospital in central London, said that the new technology would allow surgeons to look inside the patient, to plan their operations and practise on the computer model.

At the launch yesterday of a research project to perfect 3-D imaging for surgeons, supported by British Telecom, Professor McGrouther said static 3-D images of parts of the human body were to be combined with two-dimensional moving pictures to build up a moving picture which could be manipulated to show internal structures.

Professor McGrouther said: 'What we are developing is a series of 3-D moving images which will aid the surgeon and can even be shifted down telephone lines. There is no real reason why there should not be a scanner in every casualty department so that the doctor on duty could call his chief at night and display the patient's anatomy to him on his own TV screen.'

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in