Information technologies in medicine: rehabilitation and treatment

A comprehensive survey of technological developments in Virtual Reality for use in a variety of medical procedures

Medicine and the biological sciences have long relied on visualizations to illustrate the relationship between anatomic structure and biologic function. The new multidimensional imaging modalities are powerful counterparts to traditional forms of observation surgery, postmortem examination, or extensive mental reconstruction. VR technologies have reached unimagined levels of sophistication and utility, giving physicians and students new avenues for planning and practicing surgery and diagnostics.

The two volumes of Information Technologies in Medicine thoroughly explore the use of VR technology in three dimensional visualization techniques, realistic surgical training prior to patient contact, and actual procedures in rehabilitation and treatment, including telemedicine and telesurgery. Editors Akay and Marsh have brought together all the available information on the subject of VR technologies in medicine and medical training to create the first comprehensive guide to the state of the art in medicine for use by students, doctors, and researchers.

Volume II concentrates on VR technologies specifically in the area of rehabilitation and treatment and provides complete coverage of the most recent advancements in high tech medicine. Specific treatments include:
* VR in neuro/orthopedic rehabilitation
* VR in treatment of anxiety disorders
* Robot assisted microsurgery
* VR and the vestibular system
* Maxillofacial virtual surgery

PREFACE.

PART I: TREATMENT.

1. Neuro/Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Disability Solutions Using Virtual Reality Technology (Walter J. Greenleaf).

2. The Use of Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders (Brenda K. Wiederhold and Mark D. Wiederhold).

3. Virtual Reality for Health Care (L. Beolchi and G. Riva).

4. Robot Assisted Microsurgery Development at JPL (Hari Das, Tim Ohm, Curtis Boswell, Rob Steele, and Guillermo Rodriguez).

5. Virtual Reality and the Vestibular System: A Brief Review (Erik Viirre, Zsolt Lorant, Mark Draper, and Thomas A. Furness, III).

PART II: TELEMEDICINE AND TELESURGERY.

6. Computer Imagery and Multimedia Techniques for Supporting Telemedicine Diagnoses (Qinglian Guo, Katsunobu Muroi, and Mieko Ohsuga).

7. Implementing a Picture Achieving and Communication System (PACS) and Teleradiology System: Practical Issues and Considerations (Jihong Wang).

8. From Engineering to Surgery: The Harsh Realities of Virtual Reality (Robert John Stone).

9. Maxillofacial Virtual Surgery from 3 D CT Images (Alessandro Sarti, Roberto Gori, Alberto Bianchi, Claudio Marchetti, and Claudio Lamberti).

INDEX.