August 28th, 2008 by misvan
Dr. Christoph Sensen and the CAVEman
Slightly scary image considering you’re in a small dark room with this thing.
Lead by Christoph Sensen, Director of the University of Calgary’s Sun Center for Human Excellence for Visual Genomics, a team of computer scientists, biologists, mathematicians, and artists toiled for nearly 6 years to create the first complete 4D human atlas, simply called CAVEman. Their manual—basic anatomy textbooks.
Sensen says that “our goal was to build a model of a complete human, at 10 times the resolution of anything else on the market. I am proud to say today, we have reached that goal.” By using 3D glasses and a controller to focus on a particular body part, the viewer can size CAVEman to any scale. MRIs, CAT scans, and x-rays can be superimposed over the model to allow physicians and patients to visualize a specific problem. Time-lapse (the 4th dimension) allows the viewer to see bodily functions or diseases progress over time. This is all accomplished through projection into an empty room from 3 walls and the floor.
Researchers are planning to use CAVEman to study the genetics of cancer, diabetes, muscular sclerosis and Alzheimer’s. They hope to one day create individual patient models for patient education. Imagine going to the doctor and seeing a full-size 4D model of yourself!
Currently, Sensen and his team are working on a mechanism that will allow researchers to reach into CAVEman and actually feel the various tissues. Crazy!
This could also be a wonderful tool for medical students to learn anatomy. You’re probably wondering the price tag of such a marvelous invention…$500,000 to $2million.
[via Medgadget]
August 27th, 2008 by misvan
I apologize for the down time of Street Anatomy yesterday. Apparently I have outgrown my webhost! I’m in the process of switching over to a new host so please bear with me for the next couple of weeks. There are lots of plan in the works for expanding Street Anatomy even more, so stay tuned!
August 25th, 2008 by misvan
Heart (8h x 6w x 2.8d)
Got your digits (8.5w x 12.35h x 5.5d)
Sargent (12h x 9.5w x 5.5d)
Miracle baby (8h x 6w x 2.8d)
Brain ( 8h x 6w x 2.8d)
Life (8h x 6w x 2.8d)
Chris Elsasser tells me that while he doesn’t do street art, he creates “indoor anatomical art with lightboxes” using his own designs or actual x-rays. They’re quite unique pieces that would make a great addition to any room. Love the illustrations, design, and concept.
They’re available for purchase on his website, Munstre, along with prints, shirts, and accessories. I’m thinking of getting a couple myself to add to my growing anatomical art collection.
August 24th, 2008 by misvan
“Cupid and Centaur” (1992)
A very interesting image by Joel-Peter Witkin, an American photographer with a fascination for the morbid, sexual, and unordinary.
As a child, Witkin witnessed a horrific car accident that would influence his work later on in life.
It happened on a Sunday when my mother was escorting my twin brother and me down the steps of the tenement where we lived. We were going to church. While walking down the hallway to the entrance of the building, we heard an incredible crash mixed with screaming and cries for help. The accident involved three cars, all with families in them. Somehow, in the confusion, I was no longer holding my mother’s hand. At the place where I stood at the curb, I could see something rolling from one of the overturned cars. It stopped at the curb where I stood. It was the head of a little girl. I bent down to touch the face, to speak to it — but before I could touch it someone carried me away.
Look through his portfolio and you’ll see just how this experience permeates through all his works.
[via Heather]
August 23rd, 2008 by misvan
A recent stream of tattoos to add to the Anatomy Tattoo Gallery. Thanks for the submissions!
Recently submitted ripped skin ink by Sebastian Rudat.
Submitted by Suren. Here’s the fun story behind his tattoo—
It started as joke with a friend in class, we said we should get regular heart tattoos with blank ribbons on it so we can put whoever’s name we wanted in it. So as I thought about it more, I really loved the idea and concept behind it. I chose an anatomical rendering of the heart because it beats out a plain old traditional heart, the details the vessels and everything was very intriguing. The blank ribbon is more of a statement and a mockery of the traditional tattoo. I wanted people to know that it was a bit foolish to tattoo another persons name especially if they’re not family, hence the blank ribbon. The anatomical heart itself is mocking the traditional tattoo, because indeed it is a real heart and not a valentines day chocolate box. More than a statement the tattoo has a fun spin to it. I can sharpie or pen in anyone or anything I want inside of it, whenever I want. No regrets, and that’s the fun part to the tattoo. All in all, I’m happy with my first tattoo.
I should have asked Suren to write Street Anatomy in the ribbon and then take a picture!
Illustration © Karen Bucher, inking done by Ben Wahh from Deluxe Tattoo.
I’ve had quite a few people ask me if I know any medical illustrators who do tattoo commissions. I never really had an answer until I attended the annual Association of Medical Illustrators conference back in July. To my amazement, I saw this tattoo submitted to the Salon (a showcase/competition of student and professional medical illustration work). The artist, Karen Bucher, was asked to do this tattoo by a complete stranger. She obliged and it ended up turning out really well.
If you’re interested in getting an anatomical tattoo and want it done accurately, try commissioning a medical illustrator.
If you’d like to submit your own anatomy tattoo, send a jpeg that’s at least 500px wide and a short explanation to misvan@aol.com and I’ll post it in the tattoo gallery.
