Contemporary Materials II−1 (2011)
Contemporary Materials II−1 (2011) Page 76 of 83
OPTIMIZATION OF RAPID PROTOTYPING TECHNOLOGY FOR ADVANCED MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
M. Šljivić1,*, M. Stanojević1, N. Grujović2, R. Radonjić1
Abstract
The application of the two technologies: reverse engineering and rapid prototyping is emerging rapidly in the medical applications. These engineering methods have especially shown fast advancement in the following applications: in very complex preparation of computer aided surgery, computer guided implantology, non-invasive diagnostic from CT and MRI scans, design of customized implants, maxillofacial surgery, esthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, etc. This research has a multidisciplinary approach; it requires a team work of experts from various scientific fields such as CAD design and virtual engineering, digital image processing, medicine, implantology. Only a very few applicative pioneer steps have been made so far in Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and SE Europe in general.
The aim of this research is to make a contribution to the optimization of all three phases: preprocessing, processing and post-processing in the process chain of reverse engineering – rapid prototyping in the medical applications. The optimal process of rapid prototyping has been defined for different medical input data and formats. The process includes internal 3d reconstruction of CT and MRI scanning in DICOM format, such as applications in orthopedic surgery, maxillofacial surgery, prosthetic dentistry, such as complex or total prosthesis, as well as the external surface reconstruction by 3d scanning, such as esthetic surgery and reconstruction plastic surgery or dentistry based on 3d scanning from elastic silicone impression.
Keywords: optimization, preprocessing and post-processing, reverse engineering, computer guided implantology.
References
[2] A. B. M Saifullah, N. P. Mahalik and B. H. Ahn, The Need Of Technology Transfer of RP in Prototyping and Casting Industries of Developing Countries, Proceedings of the International Conference on Mechanical Engineering (2005) (ICME2005) 28‒30.