TLA Generator

Overview

What is True Life Anatomy?

Using Advanced Surface Shading Technology, True Life Anatomy (TLA) delivers truly interactive 3D image access to the clinical. This is actual 3D image sharing, in a DICOM compliant, PACS compatible, web accessible PC based environment.

TLA is desktop software that provides interactive access to real-time 3D, animated images of a patient’s injury at the bedside, in the clinic, or even in the operating theatre. TLA combines state-of-the-art, 3D animation tools that are typically used in video animation applications with conventional anatomical imaging (CAT scans) to give a real-time view of bone and surrounding tissue.

For the first time, radiologists and clinicians can conveniently view an injury and manipulate the image on a standard desktop computer to show a patient or medical team accurately what has happened and what is being planned.

TLA represents a significant advance on existing imaging technology, which previously was restricted to dedicated CAT scanner high-powered workstations in a radiology facility. TLA requires only a current desktop and no specialised skills.

Testimonial - "3D images are nothing new, but the ability to turn the fracture around, and look inside it, is something I have not seen before,…..and you can even show the patient." Dr Rob Sharp FRCS - British Trauma Surgeon

 

How is TLA different?

Unlike most of the popular 3D imaging software used today, which in reality can only product a 2D picture of the 3D data, TLA creates a true 3D object that can be manipulated, segmented and modified.

The TLA Generator software imports CT or MRI scanned two dimensional slice data and creates 3D models that are saved as .tla files. TLA Generator readily reads CT data off a CD, however third party software such as Conquest, or iQ-VIEW is required to perform Q/R or Dicom Receive from PACS.

 

TLA Software Family

TLA Generator

Reads in raw CT or MRI slice data and converts to surfaced models and generates the .tla file format and can be converted into DICOM format.

It allows for individual control of creating separated segments, or automatic functions for best guess segmentation and permits separation of component parts of the object and can delete parts of the objects as well as accurately measure distances and angles.

The 3D model can also be sent to the clinician for viewing on another TLA Viewer that requires less computing power. This 3D image data can also be transmitted by network or broadband connection.

TLA Viewer

The viewer reads the .tla files created by TLA Generator software and saves them to standard .jpg file format, or prints reports.

It can hide (previously segmented) objects or segments, and colour objects or segments. It can run on most standard desktop computers, and has a simple and intuitive interface.

It is designed for the clinician to view and demonstrate the TLA 3D images in the teaching and research setting as well as an adjunct to existing imaging data in the clinical environment. The UI is simple and does not demand significant computer skills.

TLA Animator / Templator (not commercially available at this time)

The TLA Animator generates animation files by reading in .tla files with options to:

Move individual segments of a 3D image file such as for a trial fracture reduction.

Import sequential positions of a joint to create an animation to demonstrate motion, or

Import the anatomical file plus a virtual prosthesis to trial a joint replacement.

Both the objects and the virtual camera can be moved in 3D space. This technology allows virtual surgery, arthroplasty templating and multiple joint position motion simulation.

The animation files are saved as native .tim files or standard .avi files which can be distributed and viewed by either TLA animator software or media players such as Windows Media Player.

Advantages for the radiologist

Modest investment means a predictable return on investment. Because of the increasing number of slices generated from multi receptor slice scanners, it is becoming difficult to review adequately the entire data set.
 

The larger numbers of slices have advantages such as:

Better MIP.

Reformats.

3D image creation.

The large slice number however creates problems such as:

Large data set memory issues.

Storage.

Slice Sharing and presentation.

Large file size for export to referring doctor.

TLA makes the most of the large number of slices to create a high quality 3D image that is then decimated to usable and visually adequate size. This maximises the usefulness of the fine multiple slices, but then packages the data in a usable form.

Volume averaging issues are reduced by the thin slice overlapping slices maximising the option of creating an automatically segmented image. When saves to a TLA or DICOM format, there is integration of the 3D and 2D image information for ready reference.

Significant Advancement

TLA software provides significant advancement to your current imaging capability by making the most of the data creation, by providing the referring clinicians with an attractive imaging capability, and by allowing post processing to be done by the people who are most aware of the clinical requirements the referring clinician.

Virtually all diagnostic imaging is ultimately paid for by the patient (including through their taxes or insurance), as these studies are an essential part of their medical care.

Those patients typically give their clinician the responsibility to order the most appropriate investigations to achieve this outcome.

TLA technology empowers the radiologist to provide the most effective display of such imaging data and delivers to the clinician the capability to make the most of the diagnostic studies to improve the management, education and outcome of the patient.

Providing true interactive 3D image access imparts an increased diagnostic and therapeutic capability that film cannot offer – creating enormous advantages to digital image data access and facilitating the move to filmless in a way beneficial and essential to the referring clinician.

TLA technology improves the accessibility of diagnostic imaging data to the patient treatment axis, and as such this benchmark capability may become an expectation by the referring clinician.

TLA Generator features

Support for DICOM files.

View 2D and 3D images together.

Manipulate the 2D Dicom file by using the Pan, Zoom, Measure Distance, Measure Angle, Adjust Brightness/Contrast.

3D models with different resolution.

Smooth the 3D model.

Decimate the 3D model.

Manipulate the generated 3D model by using the Pan, Zoom, Measure Distance, Measure Angle, Rotate and pick objects / Bones.

Dynamic separation of objects/bones from the 3D model.

Export 2D Dicom file and 3D model to JPEG.

Print 2D Dicom file and 3D model.

 

Testimonials

Patients

"I did not really believe the treatment you were proposing, but after seeing the model, I have no doubts. Let's get on with it!" A. Heron, Patient with distal Radial malunion

"It is brilliant - to actually see what the problem is, and the bone with all its structure, means that a lot of the guess work is taken out. It gives a lot of satisfaction to the patient to actually see what is going on!" SW, Patient pain with an elbow problem

"When you proposed a surgical repair I was not convinced. The 3D image is so much clearer that I now have the confidence to go that way." State Attorney with shoulder fracture

Clinicians

"The Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma increasingly uses True Life Anatomy reconstruction for planning of complex surgery - we find it assists with pre-operative planning and demonstrates the advantage of virtual surgery in complex cases. The junior surgeons have embraced this technology, and I can see this becoming routine with the potential for significant improvements in operative techniques including combinations with controlled minimally invasive surgery and less traumatic approaches to complex fractures, reconstructive osteotomies and complex joint reconstruction. Professor and Head - Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma

"3D images are nothing new, but the ability to turn the fracture around, and look inside it, is something I have not seen before,…..and you can even show the patient." Dr Rob Sharp FRCS - British Trauma Surgeon

"…You are developing the product that I have been waiting for and that the global orthopaedic and hand surgery community desperately needs, and I would be grateful to be able to fan the flames of your success …." Dr Charlie Eaton MD - Hand Surgeon, Florida www.eatonhand.com

"I am an orthopaedic surgeon in London, England. I stumbled across your software on the net and I have to say it is really quite impressive. Very easy to use indeed." Orthopaedic Surgeon - London, England

Radiologists

"This certainly gives the best virtual colonoscopy images I have seen, and very quick too. I think there will be a big place for this technology" Assoc. Professor, Radiologist

"..One day (maybe in a year or two) we will be able to export 3D images from the CT scanner to allow the referring doctor to interact with them on their own computer…" Radiologist

"Many radiologists have often felt that 3D images were of little value to them, but did have some value to the referring physician….."

"…..I would be willing to go out on a limb and boldly suggest that within 3 - 5 years this (3D imaging) will become the technique of choice for delivery of our CT services." Elliot K Fishman MD FACR - (www.insideinspace.com/article3.html) Professor of Radiology and Oncology - Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Researchers

"Having watched the development of True Life Anatomy from its inception, I am very excited about the current applications and the future possibilities of this technology. The ability to manipulate 3-D reconstructions of musculoskeletal images on the office desktop provides a quantum leap for clinicians, researchers and instructors. In an environment of rapidly expanding imaging options for clinical management and for biomedical research, TLA is at the front of the line for making these images accessible to the end-users." Professor of Orthopaedic Research - Head of the Bone & Joint Centre

"I have been using it for some time as it gives me the most flexibility and visual impact of any I have seen.... really worth a look at!" Orthopaedic Researcher

 

Technical specifications

Supported Operating Systems

Windows ME.

Windows XP Professional.

Note - The TLA products either do not support, or provide limited support for MAC (Apple Macintosh). See the product documentation for more information.

Hardware Recommendations

3 GB or more free disk space on a single drive to accommodate the software and data.

Disk Space to Install

Web Browsers on Windows

TLA Documentation

Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.x or higher to read the user manuals and online PDF files.

Language Support 

This release supports only English. All displays, menus, controls, wizards, reports, and user documentation are in US English.

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