A three-dimensional digital atlas of the dura mater based on human head MRI

•Proposes a method established 3D anatomical model by engineering design.•Modeling of various kinds complex anatomical structures can be completed in the method we proposes.•Proposes a method established 3D medical atlas with animation, video game software (3ds Max).

ObjectiveThe goal of this paper was to design a three-dimensional (3D) digital dural atlas of the human brain for assisting neurosurgeons during the planning of an operation, medical research and teaching activities in neurosurgical anatomy.MethodsThe 176 sagittal head magnetic resonance(MR) images of a 54-year-old female who suffered from the left posterior fossa tumor were processed and outlined, based on which a 3D dural model was created using the softwares of 3ds-max and Mimics. Then the model and images/anatomy photos were matched using the softwares of Z-brush and Photoshop to form the 3-D dural atlas. Dural anatomic photographs were needed to produce the 3D atlas in dural vault and skull base areas.ResultsThe 3D dural atlas of the brain and related structures was successfully constructed using 73 dural delineations, the contours of dural model match very well on the dural structures of the original images in three orthogonal (axial, coronal and sagittal view) MR cross-sections. The atlas can be arbitrarily rotated and viewed from any direction. It can also be zoomed in and out directly using the zoom function.ConclusionWe successfully generated a 3D dural atlas of human brain, which can be used for repeated observation and research without limitations of time and shortage of corpses. In addition, the atlas has many potential applications in operative planning, surgical training, teaching activities, and so on.