Introduction. Liver surgery is widely used as a treatment modality for various liver pathologies. Despite significant improvement in clinical care, operative strategies, and technology over the past few decades, liver surgery is still risky, and optimal preoperative planning and anatomical assessment are necessary to minimize risks of serious complications. 3D printing technology is rapidly expanding, and whilst appliactions in medicine are growing, but its applications in liver surgery are still limited. This article describes the development of models of hepatic structures specific to a patient diagnosed with an operable hepatic malignancy. Methods. Anatomy data were segmented and extracted from computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the liver of a single patient with a resectable liver tumor. The digital data of the extracted anatomical surfaces was then edited and smoothed, resulting in a set of digital 3D models of the hepatic vein, portal vein with tumor, biliary tree with gallbladder, and hepatic artery. These were then 3D printed. Results. The final models of the liver structures and tumor provided good anatomical detail and representation of the spatial relationships between the liver tumor and adjacent hepatic structures and could be easily manipulated and explored from different angles. Conclusions. A graspable, patient-specific, 3D printed model of liver structures could provide an improved understanding of the complex liver anatomy and better navigation in difficult areas and allow surgeons to anticipate anatomical issues that might arise during the operation. Further research into adequate imaging, liver-specific volumetric software, and segmentation algorithms are worth considering to optimize this application.

This paper explores the influence of passive haptic feedback on presence and task performance using two important interaction metaphors. We compared direct interaction with the user's hand with interaction using a stylus. Twenty-four participants performed a simple selection task consisting of pressing buttons while playing a memory game, with haptic feedback and interaction metaphor as the independent variables. We measured task performance by computing errors and time between button presses. We measured presence with questionnaires and through a new method based on users' involuntary movements. Our results suggest that passive haptic feedback improves both presence and task performance. However, small but significant differences related to the interaction metaphor were only apparent when haptic feedback was not provided.

Neuroanatomy can be challenging to both teach and learn within the undergraduate veterinary medicine and surgery curriculum. Traditional techniques have been used for many years, but there has now been a progression to move towards alternative digital models and interactive 3D models to engage the learner. However, digital innovations in the curriculum have typically involved the medical curriculum rather than the veterinary curriculum. Therefore, we aimed to create a simple workflow methodology to highlight the simplicity there is in creating a mobile augmented reality application of basic canine head anatomy. Using canine CT and MRI scans and widely available software programs, we demonstrate how to create an interactive model of head anatomy. This was applied to augmented reality for a popular Android mobile device to demonstrate the user-friendly interface. Here we present the processes, challenges and resolutions for the creation of a highly accurate, data based anatomical model that could potentially be used in the veterinary curriculum. This proof of concept study provides an excellent framework for the creation of augmented reality training products for veterinary education. The lack of similar resources within this field provides the ideal platform to extend this into other areas of veterinary education and beyond.