Life-saving 3-D technology

Surgeons can now operate on livers with greater confidence by taking advantage of a software-driven service that can help them to perform a 3-D analysis of a liver.

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, the HexaLotus service creates an accurate model of the patient's liver.

Dr Liu Jimin, 42, who founded HexaLotus, explained how the service can help doctors.

The produced model is compared against that of a healthy liver. HexaLotus automatically morphs the healthy liver to match the size and dimensions of the patient's liver.

Through the new model, segments of the patient's liver can be observed and analysed for irregularities. Specific segments and elements of the liver, such as veins, can be isolated and displayed.

This means that doctors can get a good handle of the structure of the patient's liver before even making a single cut.

HexaLotus' modelling technology is based on a software called LiverSuite from the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, a member of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star).

Dr Liu added that several hospitals here are already trying it out.

HexaLotus is one of 40 home-grown technologies and commercial solutions that were exhibited at A*Star's Media Exploits 2012 event last week.

This digital media industry forum allows users and developers to share insights and learn about new developments. A total of 320 people from 140 companies attended it.

It was organised by Exploit Technologies, an A*Star arm which commercialises the technology developed by A*Star's 14 research institutes, packaging them into such forms as software development kits ready for licensing.

The technology is not just for big companies. It is tailored to the needs of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which comprise about three-quarters of Exploit Technology's licensees.