Chicago- Brazilian researchers have developed a new type of 3-D scan which allows doctors and parents to closely examine the stages of a developing fetus by using data acquired from MRI machines and ultrasound through customized glass.

Dr. Heron Werner of the Clínica de Diagnóstico por Imagem and colleaguesin Rio de Janeiro used MRI, advanced computer programs and Oculus Rift to create virtual images that could be navigated in virtual reality.

“The 3-D fetal models combined with virtual reality immersive technologies may improve our understanding of fetal anatomical characteristics and can be used for educational purposes and as a method for parents to visualize their unborn baby,” said Werner, who presented the new technology at a meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

However, a German professor saw that this new innovation does not provide any additional scientific value, because it introduced unremarkable new features despite its high cost that could reach EUR1000.