Over the past two decades Computed Tomography (CT) has become one of the most significant imaging modalities in clinical medicine. The hardware and software innovations responsible for the advances in imaging have also resulted in the desire to incorporate CT scans into research of archaeological interest and specifically for mummies. Mummies have been considered as "biologic museums", being able to show clear clues about the life and death of regal ancient Egyptian population who lived thousands of years ago. A detailed investigation of mummies is able to provide deep evidences about daily life style (e.g the diet), physiologic details and pathological processes as well as medical practices and mummification techniques. Adoption of CT scan to examine mummies is not new in itself - it's been largely done for the past 20 years - but the last technological evolutions permit us to better manipulate scans and extract details not discernible just a few years ago. We are getting as close as possible to seeing what's underneath and inside the mummies, without unwrapping them. Particularly, specific advanced computer graphics tools have been implemented starting from CT data to obtain three dimensional (3D) models of partial anatomical specimens or whole mummies in their proper anatomical position. Images are normally visualized into two dimensions, nevertheless the adoption of post-processing tools and dedicated algorithms produce now multiplanar figures and three-dimensional views of mummies specimens. From the technical point of view three steps are typically necessary to produce a three- dimensional rapid prototype model starting from CT data: (1) the mage acquisition; (2) the image post-processing; (3) the 3D printing. The raw data acquired by CT scan are transferred to a dedicated image post-processing workstation. On the workstation, the segmentation and 3D visualization are produced and a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model of the segmented structures can be generated. At last such data can be captured by rapid prototyping printers to create the 3D solid objects by the addition of material layers. The process chain from imaging to 3D prototype modelling is really a multidisciplinary field involving informatic and medical personnel with specific know-how, necessarily and opportunely guided under the supervision of expert archaeologists.
3D Modeling and printing for anatomical speciments of archaeological interest
C Campisi;A D'Elia
2016
Abstract
Over the past two decades Computed Tomography (CT) has become one of the most significant imaging modalities in clinical medicine. The hardware and software innovations responsible for the advances in imaging have also resulted in the desire to incorporate CT scans into research of archaeological interest and specifically for mummies. Mummies have been considered as "biologic museums", being able to show clear clues about the life and death of regal ancient Egyptian population who lived thousands of years ago. A detailed investigation of mummies is able to provide deep evidences about daily life style (e.g the diet), physiologic details and pathological processes as well as medical practices and mummification techniques. Adoption of CT scan to examine mummies is not new in itself - it's been largely done for the past 20 years - but the last technological evolutions permit us to better manipulate scans and extract details not discernible just a few years ago. We are getting as close as possible to seeing what's underneath and inside the mummies, without unwrapping them. Particularly, specific advanced computer graphics tools have been implemented starting from CT data to obtain three dimensional (3D) models of partial anatomical specimens or whole mummies in their proper anatomical position. Images are normally visualized into two dimensions, nevertheless the adoption of post-processing tools and dedicated algorithms produce now multiplanar figures and three-dimensional views of mummies specimens. From the technical point of view three steps are typically necessary to produce a three- dimensional rapid prototype model starting from CT data: (1) the mage acquisition; (2) the image post-processing; (3) the 3D printing. The raw data acquired by CT scan are transferred to a dedicated image post-processing workstation. On the workstation, the segmentation and 3D visualization are produced and a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model of the segmented structures can be generated. At last such data can be captured by rapid prototyping printers to create the 3D solid objects by the addition of material layers. The process chain from imaging to 3D prototype modelling is really a multidisciplinary field involving informatic and medical personnel with specific know-how, necessarily and opportunely guided under the supervision of expert archaeologists.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
