A Search Engine for the Body (Human Anatomy)

A scientist has developed a process of searching through a patient’s anatomy, just like the way search engines do, in order to effortlessly find organs and help in diagnosis. This method was developed in order to help doctors who have trouble navigating 3D images developed by MRI scans, which often pose problems when trying to view specific areas. This search engine created by Antonio Criminisi is a program that allows users to search an index that has been created by the MRI scan and a clear view of a distinct body part is submitted to you.

This program has the ability to signal distinct structures by recognizing patterns of light and dark within the scan itself, which was made possible by training an algorithm to distinguish features in numerous scans where impressions of body organs had been made. What this means is that within no time it is possible to provide the required results on to a screen. Users can then make comparisons between this scan and an older one in order to detect changes in that have occurred in the problem area. 

Scientists are in the process of finding ways to incorporate voice recognition, in addition to trying to find innovative medical uses for Microsoft’s kinetic Controller. The use of this device will help surgeons in consulting a patient’s scan image when performing surgery without the need to mess up their mouse or keyboard or even without the need to contaminate their rubber gloves.

If this software proves to be a user-friendly way to search then it would dramatically help to improve patient care. As medical imaging has evolved so has the amount of images that are available and this has proven to be an information overload to surgeons. The creator of this software is also working on a way to train it to detect the difference between degrees of Glioma tumor, which is a kind of brain tumor.