Case Studies - DG Medical Animations

Engage3D – Interactive 3D Models with Built In 3D Animation (!)

October 2, 2024 by Dave Grossman

Why that (!) in the title? Because we’ve developed a brand new 3D technology platform that takes 3D interactivity for medical device up many notches.

Yes, we still create (and love to create) animations that tell a story without any user interaction, but these server two special purposes:

For sales reps to use during meetings on an iPad or similar device
For potential customers at a trade show to not just watch a video about your device, but to actually interact with it while they also learn about it.

Below you can see an example of an Engage3D project we did for Medtronic.

The three main elements are:

The user can spin, pan and tilt the 3D model in any direction.

The user can click on a numerical callout for more information on a particular area as defined by you. Below is after the user tapped the number 2.

The user can click on a fingerprint for an actual “animation within the animation.” In this example, the animations are the peeling of the tabs. In yours, it could be anything you want – even a surgical technique. The sky (and our mutual imaginations in collaboration) is the limit.

Want a demo? Contact us and we’ll be right back in touch with you!

Case Study: Mastergraft by Medtronic 3D Animation

April 20, 2021 by Dave Grossman

3D Medical equipment is a highly competitive industry and sales teams face rigorous competition. In this 3D animation, Medtronic’s Mastergraft technology is showcased in a concise and visually compelling way. This not only helps practitioners educate patients but also sales teams educate practitioners.

This case study discusses some of the technical challenges faced when creating 3d medical equipment animations as well as the goals they hope to achieve. By working closely with the Medronics development team, this animation was able to accurately, quickly, and completely convey the core features of this health technology.

Microscopic Animations

mastergraft by medtronic host cell recovery microscopic detail d medical animation

This rendering showcases a microscopic view of host cells and plasma organisms

One of the first scenes in this animation showcases a microscopic few of the host’s bloodstream. This helps set a tone of the animation that speaks to the cellular technology used by the Mastergraft technology. By using Gaussian distributions, particle scattering, and depth-of-field techniques this animation was able to capture the essence of the microscopic world.

Visualizing a Host Response

mastergraft by medtronic host cell biograft delivery d medical animation

Illustrating the use of patient cells on the biograft prior to insertion

This scene showcases the Biograft being populated with host cells prior to insertion. By priming a viewer with the microscopic view first, the priming for host acceptance is more clearly illustrated. To accurately render this scene, we made use of surface displacement technologies and particle systems to accurately simulate the influx of host cells onto the biograft substrate.

Animating Spinal Placement

mastergraft by medtronic host cell recovery graft placement d medical animation

Showcasing the biograft being place onto the spinal location

One of the challenges of this project was to accurately, and completely, visualize the placement and acceptance of the biograft. To achieve the desired effect, we leveraged opacity masking to help slowly reveal the biograft appearing at its final placement location. This helps the beginning, middle, and end of the process be concisely visualized.

Final Result

mastergraft by medtronic host cell recovery graft placement bone formation d medical animation

Rendering of final placment and host acceptance

Multi-step medical animations often involve a complex series of maneuvering. This project was no exception, and the showcasing of the final desired result brought everything together. Here we’ve used slow rotation to help bring the entire placement into focus as the viewer slowly adjusts their focus from the micro to the macro.

Review

3D Medical animations are always unique in that each project requires imaginative approaches. This project required a creative realization to bridge the microscopic with the macroscopic all while concisely conveying complex steps. Our animation team used a combination of natural systems simulations, real-world camera simulations, and optimized texture workflows to deliver a final animation on budget and on time. Feel free to send us a message to learn more about how this project was created.

Case Study: OLIF25 Spinal Procedure Explainer Video

April 20, 2021 by Dave Grossman

Medical animations involve complex systems, movements, and interactions between elements. That’s for the simple stuff! Medtronic’s OLIF25 procedure is a complex approach designed to help preserve the patient’s psoas muscle during L2-L5 surgeries. This medical animation was designed to clearly and concisely illustrate how this procedure is used.

The OLIF25 procedure involves consideration for several anatomical structures including the spine, psoas muscles, femoral nerves, and several other objects. This project’s goal was to efficiently create representations of all these systems and structures and how the OLIF25 procedure relates to them. It was tricky—but our 3d animation studio was ready for the challenge!

Surgical Location

medtronic olif medical animation side overlay

This visualization helps immediately draw attention to the location at which this surgical procedure is relevant

This side view of a hypothetical patient reveals the area of the spine at which the OLIF25 procedure is applicable. The overlayed anatomical structures help immediately convey the relationship of this procedure to the spine and the psoas muscle groups. Our animation team used masking animations and well-placed gradient maps to help create this effect quickly and effectively.

3D Skeletal Visualization

medtronic olif medical animation psoas muscle anatomy

A more isolated view brings attention for the OLIF25 procedure to a more anatomical conversation

The OLIF25 procedure by Medtronic is an internal one. This project’s goal was to visualize complex considerations and relationships between skeletal and tissue. This initial visualisation showcases an externalized imaging of where the OLIF25 procedure takes place. This helped meet the goal of focusing on the procedure’s surgical technical challenges rather than post-operative consideration.

Detailed Animation of Surgical Procedure

medtronic olif medical animation oblique coorido tool locationr animation

Visualizing the surgeon’s involvement and tool placement

After setting the stage in terms of locational awareness, the project began visualizing the actions taken by the surgeon. This vertical cutaway isolates where the surgeon’s focus is directed as well as tool placement. One of this project’s challenges was to communicate a great number of steps in a limited number of frames. To meet this goal, our animation team made use of image overlays to increase informational density.

Complex Systems Rendering

medtronic olif medical animation gentofemoral nerve

In-depth visualization of spinal structure and associated nerve tissues

The human body isn’t nearly as tidy in real life as it is in textbooks and 3d Medical animations. One of the challenges of this project was to clearly discuss multiple structures simultaneously without obfuscation. To achieve this goal, our animation team made use of translucent materials, revolving camera angles, and overlaid text labeling. This help pack in as much vital information per scene as possible—lowering project cost and time.

Review

The OLIF25 procedure was designed to help surgeons operate on patient spinal columns with less risk to neurological and orthopedic post-operative issues. This medical animation was designed to help educate surgeons about the process, how the procedure is applied, and the many considerations it addresses. Our animation studio was able to pack a dense amount of information into a short, concise video conveying the essential details. Reach out to our 3D team for more information on how this video was created.

Breakdown: Hip-Replacement 3D Animation

April 20, 2021 by Dave Grossman

An estimated 7 million Americans are living with hip and/or knee replacements. As these procedures become increasingly popular, patient education becomes a powerful selling tool. This 3D hip replacement animation clearly demonstrates the added structure to the hip areas.

3D medical animations can be useful in medical equipment sales, practitioner training, and patient awareness. Helping patients better understand what hip replacement procedures entail can help them better evaluate the procedures of potential benefits to them. In this breakdown, we showcase how this 3D animation demonstrates the hip replacement process.

Acetabular Component + Liner

hip replacement surgery animation first step

This still image rendering showcases the installation of the acetabluar component and the accompanying plastic liner.

Hip replacement surgery is utilized in many cases for a wide range of patient circumstances. Additionally, body types can vary wildly. Having clear, well-presented images and video of only the essential structures (bone, cartilage, etc) is helpful. In this image, the animation showcases the initial installation of the acetabular component and plastic liner. The isolated rendering of only skeletal structure provides a concise demonstration of equipment location.

Animating the Prosthesis Assembly

hip replacement surgery animation third step

This rendering showcases the femoral stem prior to insertion into the femur

For medical procedures with multiple steps (most) it’s essential to provide clear and accurate depictions of each step. This helps patients, doctors, and sales teams clearly convey how such prosthesis are intended to be used. This rendering showcases a ghosted image of the femoral stem being attached to the acetabluar assembly. This can help visualize the extent to which lower femoral support is integrated within the device.

Visualizing Range-of-Motion

hip replacement surgery animation range of motion step

This illustration illustrates the range of motion provided by the medical equipment

One major benefit of 3D animations, even compared to photorealistic renderings, is they convey motion. Hip replacement surgery is very kinematic all around—the devices move and they are intended to help the patients move! This selection of the 3D animation showcases the full range-of-motion associated with this medical device.

Review

Medical devices are life-saving equipment in many cases and, in the case of hip-replacement surgery, can help patients reclaim independence. 3D animations can help better educate patients and practitioners alike to the benefits of such procedures. This 3D animation was created to demonstrate the different parts of this surgery as well as the resulting functionality of the medical device. Send a question to our animation team to learn more about how this animation was created.

Breakdown: 3D Biopsy Tissue Sample Animation

April 19, 2021 by Dave Grossman

Biopsies are essential medical procedures that help practitioners best diagnose patients and develop treatment options. We developed this 3D animation to help practitioners better educate patients on the nature of the procedure to help mitigate any post-operative misunderstandings.

In this breakdown, we’ll show how a 3D animation helps to showcase the core process of an endoscopic biopsy, as well as the core functionality of the equipment used. Real-world footage isn’t easily obtained for such procedures and this animation helps create a cost-effective substitute.

Medical Device Features

endoscope biopsy tissue sample medical animation

Animation of the forceps extending through the biopsy channel opening

The primary goal of this 3D animation was to clearly illustrate how this medical device is used during a biopsy procedure. Endoscopy can help doctors spot early warning signs of serious medical concerns. This part of the animation shows the forceps extending from the biopsy channel opening, being positioned on the tissue, and collecting the sample.

High Quality Lighting

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Head of biopsy endoscope illustrating a retracted position of the forceps and illumination provided by the guide lights

Patients may or may not be aware of how practitioners are able to locate certain areas in the body. This part of the animation clearly illustrates that the endoscope contains powerful lights and ideally-located objective lens to provide precision control. This medical device animation also shows that the forceps are safely retracted during initial insertion to avoid tissue damage.

3D Animation of Core Features

This part of the animation demonstrates the core feature of the endoscope’s forceps

Medical devices often have many complex features and functions. This animation clearly demonstrates one of the core functions of the forceps used during the endoscopic biopsy. Not only are 3D animations of this nature good for patient education; they can also be useful during residency and surgical training.

Review

Medical equipment animations help showcase the core features of expensive devices that aren’t always easily explained. This is useful during medical sales, patient education, and practitioner training. 3D medical animations help provide a real-world depiction of how these devices are used—something that real video isn’t always able to capture! Contact us to learn more about how these videos are created and the industries they can help support.

Lumendi: DiLumen EIP Medical Device Animation

April 18, 2021 by Dave Grossman

Medical animations help to better showcase the purpose, process, and result of medical procedures. These type of informational videos help consumers and practitioners alike better visualize the purpose and process of many procedures.

In this walk-though, we’ll take a look at a 3D medical animation we recently put together to help visualize the Endolumenal Interventional Platform (EIP) developed by Lumendi. This non-invasive procedure can help reduce the need for general anesthesia, provide an incisionless approach for certain therapies, and can reduce the duration of hospital stays.

Precision Medical Device

DiLumenTM Endolumenal Interventional Platform EIP medical device animation

The DiLumen Endolumenal Interventional Platform (EIP) is designed to help practitioners better use endoscopic tools

One of the hard parts of selling medical equipment is conveying the purpose to practitioners and patients. These devices, often with potentially life-saving ability, aren’t always easily explained. Multi-media content such as 3D medical animations can help provide a short, accurate, and easily understood demonstration. By better educating patients and practitioners a medical device can find a much better reception in the marketplace.

Visualizing Medical Equipment

Medical devices come in many shapes, sizes, and often have complex functionality. Accurate visual demonstrations are useful to better sell, use, and market medical devices. This image from the video shows a clear demonstration of how a realistic animation explains the nature of the product, what procedures it’s relevant to, and what it looks like in action.

DiLumenTM Endolumenal Interventional Platform endoscopic sheath medical animation

The DiLumen EIP device is used as an attachment for endoscopes to provide better illumination during endoscopies and related procedures.

Real-world video of such procedures is often impossible or, at the very least, unfavorable. Medical procedures can be messy after all. This portion of the animation shows that the EIP is used as an attachment, that it’s relevant for endoscopies, and that it doesn’t create an limiting size increase in existing endoscope form. Easy to visualize; easy to sell.

Animating the Fine Details

Another invaluable aspect of these type of 3D animations is that the easily demonstrate the exact nature of how medical devices are intended to use. It’s one thing to show a general use case but to have the ability to showcase nuanced uses is a powerful means of communication. In this still-frame image from the video, the EIP product is shown in-action. This provides a clear demonstration of its benefits for the practitioner.

DiLumenTM Endolumenal Interventional Platform EIP tension medical device animation

The EIP provides precision separation functionality to help illuminate and protect the area of concern

This level of detail is unparalleled for communicating the most important features of any product. Unlike products in other industries, visualizing a medical device in-action, in the field (so-to-speak), is much more difficult. Imagine the cost that would go into filming a real-world procedure at this level of detail. In most cases, it wouldn’t be possible regardless of budget!

Review

In this case study, we’ve seen how a 3D medical animation was used by Lumendi to clearly demonstrate the value of a product. The EIP is clearly a valuable tool that can help streamline the endoscopy procedure in ways that may reduce cost, lower invasiveness, and reduce hospital stay duration. For more information on 3d medical animations, reach out to our support staff for detailed and insightful answers.