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To establish digitized Virtual Chinese Human Male No.1 (VCH-M1) image dataset with a 0.2-mm equal interval.The body of a 24-year-old male was used for this study. Perfusion with phenol and vermilion of the arteries was performed, followed by body shape adjustment by cold saline and pre-embedding with broken ices in an upside-down position, which was completed in a stepwise procedure to minimize body shape deformation. Section milling was conducted subsequently with the section thickness of 2 mm and the section images were captured by digital camera, which were immediately transferred to a computer for storage and processing.A total of 9 232 sections were obtained for the whole body, and the resolution of each of the image in TIF format was 3 024x2 016 pixels, resulting in the size of approximately 18 M for each image and about 161 G for the whole dataset.Compared with VCH-F1, the image quality in VCH-M1 dataset is significantly improved, demonstrated by much clearer tissue boundary in the images and minimized body shape deformation during the embedding process.

To establish an Internet-based database for the dataset of Virtual Chinese Human that is accessible to the interested researchers, modifications and compression of the original VCH-format dataset of Virtual Chinese Human were performed before it was uploaded to the server, and RAID0+1 storage technology was adopted with specific download accesses designed for different users. After dataset modification and compression, the data size was considerably reduced to allow convenient data storage and transfer. The RAID0+1 storage technology guarantees the security and high-speed download of data through different means established. Internet-based database provides important accesses for sharing the achievement in virtual human study between world-wide researchers, which has been imperative in the present situation of science development.

To improve the image quality of the specimen serial sections for establishing the Virtual Chinese Human dataset and to extend the durability of the milling tools.The image quality of the serial sections obtained by using tangential and radial indexable milling tools was compared.Compared with radial milling tools, tangential ones were more suitable for use in this study to ensure high-quality section image acquisition, showing the advantages such as high efficiency, long durability and low cost.

To study the distribution of the biomechanical properties in the cervical vertebrae with or without the endplate, so as to evaluate the importance of the endplate in cervical anterior fusion.Indentation tests were performed at 20 standardized testing points chosen on each surface of the endplate with the impact adjusted perpendicular to the endplate surface using a hemispherical indenter 2 mm in diameter. The failure load and rigidity at each test site were determined from the load-displacement curves. Independent sample t test and factorial analyses were used to analyze the results.On either superior or inferior endplate surface, both the failure load and rigidity differed significantly between the endplate-intact and endplate-removed groups (P0.001). The posterior region of the superior endplate and the lateral regions of the inferior endplate were stronger and more rigid than any other region across the endplate surface in the endplate-intact group, while for enplate-removed group, the posterior region of the superior endplate and the posterolateral regions of the inferior endplate were the stronger and more rigid.The endplate plays an important role in deciding the success of anterior cervical fusion, and due attention should be paid to the endplate in the intervertebral implant device designing and the surgical approach modification.

To evaluate the effect of a new internal fixation system utilizing vertebral pedicle screw in fixing unstable lumbar spine in vitro.Twelve lumbar spine specimens (L(2 to 5)) obtained from fresh human cadavers were randomly divided into 2 equal groups, namely groups A and B. All intact specimens were subjected to nondestructive testing in 6 loading modalities on a universal testing machine, before complete L(2 to 5) instability was produced by means of a wedge fracture induced by resection of the posterior ligamentous structures. Specimens in group A were fixed with the new internal fixation system, and group B with SOCON pedicle screw. The same nondestructive testing was repeated to determine the structural stability of the spine after fixation in both groups.The injured spines fixed with implants in both groups were significantly more stable than the intact specimens in all modes of tests (P0.05), especially in flexion and extension tests, in which a stability increase by 62.8% for flexion and 63.9% for extension was recorded in group A, and 54.9% for flexion and 51.0% for extension in group B. The two fixation systems exhibited similar effect in stabilizing the injured lumbar in all the 6 loading modalities (P0.05).This internal fixation system with vertebral pedicle screw is capable of providing biomechanical stability for unstable lumbar spine.