Two novel approaches to visualizing internal and external anatomy of the cardiac cycle with a windowed virtual heart model

Abstract

Presented are two novel approaches to visualizing both internal and external anatomy of the heart through the cardiac cycle. The first uses "windows" manually cut through each chamber of a virtual heart model. The use of windows allows for internal and external views simultaneously while showing the varying thickness of the ventricular walls through the cardiac cycle. Internal structures such as both semilunar valves, both AV valves, chordae tendineae, and papillary muscles are kept intact and can be visualized in motion. The second approach is a rigging and control system that allows for independent rotation directions for the base, midpoint and apex of each ventricle both internally and externally, allowing for a more accurate wringing motion.