Towards a novel augmented-reality tool to visualize dynamic 3-D anatomy

Using augmented reality (AR) to teach dynamic 3-D anatomy may impart better understanding of bone dynamics during body movement. We are currently developing an AR tool that will allow superimposition and registration of bone structures on real anatomical counterparts of a human subject. This article describes the application, the problems to be solved, and reports on preliminary developmental studies of a first prototype of the tool. Specifically, studies test approaches to simulating real-time dynamic anatomy, and the feasibility in achieving registration of 3-D anatomical bones on their real counterparts. Such a tool will offer several unique advantages over traditional teaching methods and overcome many of their current limitations.