Medical Modeling Research Laboratory (MMRL)

With Federal funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada and support from the Caritas Health Group, iRSM developed the Medical Modeling Research Laboratory (MMRL) as a project extending into several Faculties at the University of Alberta including Medicine and Dentistry, Engineering, and Art and Design. The MMRL focuses on research and clinical services relating to application of advanced digital technologies to virtual reality and solid biomodeling. Clinical application, research, education, and technology transfer serve as the cornerstones of development in medical applications at MMRL. The MMRL is laying the foundation for international leadership in innovation and commercialization of digital modeling technologies in the medical market.

Advanced digital modeling technologies serve as the building blocks for restructuring treatment approaches. Both virtual and physical medical models aid in visualizing, planning and designing patient treatment. This reverses the standard surgical practice of cutting to view patient anatomy and allows surgeons to view the anatomy and virtually navigate the surgery before entering the operating room. Digital images can be translated into a physical model using three-dimensional prototyping technologies. The virtual model is sent from the computer to a device that “prints” three-dimensional models that can be held in the hand. They are used in diagnosis, surgical planning, patient education and as intra-operative navigation aids. Although iRSM will rely on medical modeling to advance care for head and neck reconstruction patients, the potential for these technologies spans the full spectrum of health care, including cardiac surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, diagnostic imaging, biomedical engineering and many other disciplines.

Download our Medical Modeling Requisition form.