Mac OS X, Microsoft Kinect create gesture-based MRI demo

A team of researchers from the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Bern in Switzerland has developed a Kinect-based system for the touch-free control of medical imaging software. The group filmed an impressive proof-of-concept video showcasing their hands-free medical imaging system. It uses the Kinect to control OsiriX, OS X image software used to view MRI, CT, PET and other DICOM images generated from medical imaging equipment.

The system would let doctors and other medical professional scan through a series of medical images as well as zoom and rotate individual images using only their hands or voice commands. One major advantage to this hands-free system is sterility. Because the system is touch-free, a doctor would not have to worry about contaminating his hands during surgery by tapping on a keyboard. While we have seen the Kinect used in a variety of clever Minority-report style hacks and even one OS X hack, this is one of the first Kinect hacks to have real-world application. Check out the video after the break and let us know what you think of Virtopsy's system.

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