MEDICAL
Brain Viewer – 3D model of the human brain
A cross-platform Qt medical application used to present a 3D model of the human brain and display information about its specific parts. We wanted the design to be pleasing to the user's eye and allow easy interaction with the brain model.
Functionalities of Brain Viewer
The core of the application is a detailed 3D brain model built from over 100 elements. Imported from an STL file using Qt Quick 3D and balsam, it accurately replicates real anatomy. The model can be freely moved, rotated, and zoomed. Users can switch between three variants: full brain, half brain, and mid-brain, showing internal structures. Each structure can be individually adjusted in colour and transparency, giving users full control to tailor the model to their needs.
The application goes far beyond displaying a 3D model, offering several advanced features. One key tool is precise structure measurement - accurate to 0.01 mm - commonly required in medical planning and complex surgical preparation. The app also enables shifting the camera plane inside the model, creating an X-ray–like view that isolates selected structures. This functionality can be combined with a physical camera, for example, in medical robotics.
Since the brain consists of over 100 separate elements, each part can be selected directly by clicking it, highlighted in light blue. Details about the chosen structure appear in the Element panel, providing a brief description. This makes the app suitable for educational use, including medical training. Users can also search for a particular structure that would cause a Virtual On-Screen Keyboard to appear.
Somco's responsibilities
- GUI Design in Figma - We created a clean and intuitive interface tailored to the application's educational and medical use cases.
- Full Qt Implementation - We developed the entire application using Qt, QtQuick, and QtQuick3D, including all 3D interactions and logic.
- Cross-Platform Optimization - We adapted and optimized the demo for multiple environments: desktop, WebAssembly, VR, and low-level embedded hardware such as STM32MP2.
Biggest win
The most important success of this project is that we made it work smoothly on low-level STM32MP2, which is a constrained embedded target. The demo with over 100 independent 3D structures was optimized to fit the capabilities of the platform. That was a challenge we successfully overcame. Adam Sowa CTO at Somco Software
Extending Qt to VR: Powerful 3D possibilities
After building the BrainViewer application, we also brought it into virtual reality - a great demonstration of Qt’s impressive cross-platform strength. The same codebase allowed us to create an immersive, interactive VR experience, and we truly enjoyed exploring what this technology can offer.
VR is becoming increasingly valuable in educational tools, surgical training, and simulation-based learning. If your project could benefit from this kind of immersive interaction, we can apply the same approach to bring your ideas into VR just as effectively.
Qt Expertise Built for the Medical Industry
At Somco Software, over 80% of our work is dedicated to the medical sector — an industry that demands cutting-edge technology, precision, and uncompromising quality. This long-standing focus has made medical projects our strongest area of expertise.
We combine deep Qt knowledge with certified medical-software processes ( ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015), ensuring every solution meets the highest standards of safety, reliability, and performance. As an official Qt Service Partner, we deliver robust, compliant, and visually advanced applications tailored to medical needs.
VIDEO
See Brain Viewer in Action
We also prepared a dedicated YouTube walkthrough showcasing the demo’s key features and real-time interactions. If you’re curious how the system works in practice, we encourage you to watch the video and explore its capabilities firsthand.
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Lukas Kosiński
Chief Executive Officer