Brainstem and SEZ anatomy

This App, "No-kan" (meaning "brainstem" in Japanese) enables users to study the brainstem and its safe entry zones with three-dimensional understanding.

Usability is pretty intuitive: you can drag or pinch your iPhone/iPad screen to mobilize or magnify the model.

Traditional textbooks or anatomy books only described two-dimensional sections of the brainstem, and realistic three-dimensional understanding relied on your imagination. By using 3DCG originally invented by Dr. Yukinari Kakzawa, MD, PhD (department of Neurosurgery, Suwa red cross hospital), this App makes understanding complex 3D relationships of neurostructures easier.

You can study inner structures of the brainstem by tapping the screen: The outline becomes transparent, and you can observe inner nerve fibers or nuclei.

When you tap a safe entry zone (demonstrated in red cylinders), related structures are highlighted, and major surgical approaches, potential complications, and small notes are provided. More than twenty papers or textbooks were consulted to obtain information regarding the safe entry zones to the brainstem, and 26 safe entry zones (16 species) are demonstrated on this App.

For presurgical imaginary simulation, you can put imaginary lesion demonstrated in a purple sphere or ellipse on the brainstem on lesion mode. The size can be adjusted as you refer to the scale on the screen.

The scenes you created can be saved into the App’s library, which can be instantly replayed by tapping Scenes button. Those scenes can also be saved to your local device by tapping Capture button.