Medical rapid prototyping applications and methods
Abstract
Purpose
Aims to investigate medical rapid prototyping (medical RP) technology applications and methods based on reverse engineering (RE) and medical imaging data.
Design/methodology/approach
Medical image processing and RE are applied to construct three‐dimensional models of anatomical structures, from which custom‐made (personalized) medical applications are developed.
Findings
The investigated methods were successfully used for design and manufacturing of biomodels, surgical aid tools, implants, medical devices and surgical training models. More than 40 medical RP applications were implemented in Europe and Asia since 1999.
Research limitations/implications
Medical RP is a multi‐discipline area. It involves in many human resources and requires high skills and know‐how in both engineering and medicine. In addition, medical RP applications are expensive, especially for low‐income countries. These practically limit its benefits and applications in hospitals.
Practical implications
In order to transfer medical RP into hospitals successfully, a good link and close collaboration between medical and engineering sites should be established. Moreover, new medical applications should be developed in the way that does not change the traditional approaches that medical doctors (MD) were trained, but provides solutions to improve the diagnosis and treatment quality.
Originality/value
The presented state‐of‐the‐art medical RP is applied for diagnosis and treatment in the following medical areas: cranio‐maxillofacial and dental surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, orthosis and tissue engineering. The paper is useful for MD (radiologists and surgeons), biomedical and RP/CAD/CAM engineers.
Keywords
Citation
Hieu, L.C., Zlatov, N., Vander Sloten, J., Bohez, E., Khanh, L., Binh, P.H., Oris, P. and Toshev, Y. (2005), "Medical rapid prototyping applications and methods", Assembly Automation, Vol. 25 No. 4, pp. 284-292. https://doi.org/10.1108/01445150510626415
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited