Mixed Reality Technology and Three-Dimensional Printing in Teaching: Heart Anatomy as an Example

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy Teaching
• Immersive Technologies

Background:

• Mixed reality (MR) and 3D printing are increasingly adopted in medicine.
• Innovations in medical education accelerated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Interest in immersive techniques and 3D printing for anatomy teaching has grown, though implementation remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the preparation and implementation of 3D prints and MR holograms for anatomy classes.
• To assess the value of these new technologies in teaching the heart's structure to medical students.
• To present opportunities for developing and widely implementing these technologies in education.

Main Methods:

• Development of 3D printed models and MR holograms focused on cardiac anatomy.
• Integration of these resources into anatomy classes for medical students.
• Collaboration between educators and engineers to facilitate learning with new technologies.

Main Results:

• Students utilized 3D prints and MR holograms to learn detailed heart structures.
• The new technologies supplemented traditional learning methods, such as human cadaver study.
• Students found the use of these advanced learning tools to be highly valuable.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates the successful preparation and application of MR and 3D printing in anatomy education.
• These technologies offer a valuable supplement to traditional medical training methods.
• There is significant potential for the widespread implementation of MR and 3D printing across various educational levels.