Ballerina (via RadiologyArt)

This is a surface reconstruction of a CT scan of a bendable ballerina doll. Its metal skeleton is clearly visualized in white. A notable feature is a mass located in the midline of the upper cranium. While exploratory surgery would be required to determine its actual significance, the shape and location is consistent with an air pocket introduced in the rubber during the manufacturing process. Similar masses are noted in the right palm and left wrist.
THE PROJECT
Artist and medical student Satre Stuelke founded the Radiology Art project to explore the hidden contents and structures of everyday things. Dedicated to the deeper visualization of various objects that hold unique cultural importance in contemporary society, this project intends to plant a seed of scientific creativity in the minds of all those inclined to participate.

THE ARTIST
Satre Stuelke lives and works in New York City. He has shown his work across the globe in numerous gallery and museum exhibitions and has also sold work through Sotheby's ArtLink. He has an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has taught at many prestigious institutions including the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. Satre is about to start his fourth year of medical school at Weill Cornell Medical College. After receiving his MD degree in 2010, he plans to specialize in (what else?) Radiology.

METHODS
Stuelke acquires the images on an older four-slice CT scanner that is used for research. Most scan parameters include a 120kV tube voltage, 100mA current, 0.625mm slice thickness and interval, 1:1 pitch, 1.25mm beam collimation, and a speed of 1.25mm/rotation. The resulting DICOM images are then processed in Osirix software on a Macintosh iMac computer. Colors are assigned based on the varying densities of materials present throughout the object to allow for optimal viewing of both inner and outer structures. Depending on the spread of densities within a particular subject, black or white backgrounds are chosen. Images are further processed in Adobe Photoshop for proper contrast and balance.


This is only a sampling. Please visit http://www.radiologyart.com for more images and the full experience of radiologyart.com by Satre Stuelke.