A downloadable three-dimensional virtual model of the visible ear.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a three-dimensional (3-D) virtual model of a human temporal bone and surrounding structures.


METHODS
A fresh-frozen human temporal bone was serially sectioned and digital images of the surface of the tissue block were recorded (the 'Visible Ear'). The image stack was resampled at a final resolution of 50 x 50 x 50/100 micro m/voxel, registered in custom software and segmented in PhotoShop 7.0. The segmented image layers were imported into Amira 3.1 to generate smooth polygonal surface models.


RESULTS
The 3-D virtual model presents the structures of the middle, inner and outer ears in their surgically relevant surroundings. It is packaged within a cross-platform freeware, which allows for full rotation, visibility and transparency control, as well as the ability to slice the 3-D model open at any section. The appropriate raw image can be superimposed on the cleavage plane. The model can be downloaded at: (https://research.meei.harvard.edu/Otopathology/3dmodels/).
Wang
Haobing
H
Eaton-Peabody Laboratory of Auditory Physiology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA.
Merchant
Saumil N
SN
Sorensen
Mads S
MS
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004423:Ear / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface