The software ANAPELVIS 3.0 with the input mask for pelvimetric data and the 3D visualization of the birth simulation. The model of the pelvis and the child's head is calcualted according to the individual anatomical data.

Background
One of the main research projects at the department of gynaecology at Zentralklinikum Augsburg is the prediction and simulation of the human birth process. The aim is to predict the course of the birth process on basis of the anatomy of the mother's pelvis and the childs head. This enables an early prediction whether the child can be brought to life without complications or whether a Caesarean section is advisable. This possibility reduces the risks process for mother and child during birth. Researches at Zentralkinikum Augsburg had developed algorithms for calculating the birth process.

Requirements
The aim of this project was to transfer this knowledge into a ready-to-use application for clincal routine. This requires an easy-to use graphical user interface for input of the anatomical data. Patients data should be stored in a database with the possibility to access this data also with third-party products for further evaluation. An important demand was a highly interactive and flexible 3D visualization of the individual simulated birth process in order to enable a clear demonstration of the simualtion to the expectant mother. For realization of this software, the requirement was to have a partner with a good background in medical image applications in order to transform detailed medical knowledge into a professional software solution.

The CREASO Solution
The graphical user-interface for data input, the calculation of the birth process, and the visualization were implemented in IDL. IDL's object graphics was used for the latter, thus enabling OpenGL accelerated, interactive 3D visualization of the birth process. A red-yellow-green color-coding scheme was used in order to symbolize the result of the simulation. Patient data is stored in a MS Access database and accessed through IDL's ODBC-based Dataminer. The goal of having a highly interactive application was realized on basis of IDL's object oriented programming capabilities.

The Benefits
IDL proved to be the ideal all-in-one solution for this task, thus allowing to create a homogeneous software solution. The result was an application which already proved it's reliability in Augsburg - and also at a number of other clinics throughout Germany, which decided to employ this software. "CREASO helped us a lot to make this complex scientific matter available to a broader audience," says Professor Wischnik, head of the gynaecological hospital in Augsburg and spiritual father of Anapelvis.