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Rapid prototyping assisted surgery planning and custom implant design

Sekou Singare (The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China Department of Mechatronic Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, China)
Qin Lian (The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China)
Wei Ping Wang (Department of Mechatronic Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, China)
Jue Wang (The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China)
Yaxiong Liu (State Key Lab for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China)
Dichen Li (State Key Lab for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China)
Bingheng Lu (State Key Lab for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China)

Rapid Prototyping Journal

ISSN: 1355-2546

Article publication date: 16 January 2009

2279

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe computer‐aided design and rapid prototyping (RP) systems for the preoperative planning and fabrication of custom‐made implant.

Design/methodology/approach

A patient with mandible defect underwent reconstruction using custom‐made implant. 3D models of the patient's skull are generated based on computed tomography image data. After evaluation of the 3D reconstructed image, it was identified that some bone fragment was moved due to the missing segment. During the implant design process, the correct position of the bone fragment was defined and the geometry of the custom‐made implant was generated based on mirror image technique and is fabricated by a RP machine. Surgical approach such as preoperative planning and simulation of surgical procedures was performed using the fabricated skull models and custom‐made implant.

Findings

Results show that the stereolithography model provided an accurate tool for preoperative, surgical simulation.

Research limitations/implications

The methods described above suffer from the expensive cost of RP technique.

Practical implications

This method allows accurate fabrication of the implant. The advantages of using this technique are that the physical model of the implant is fitted on the skull model so that the surgeon can plan and rehearse the surgery in advance and a less invasive surgical procedure and less time‐consuming reconstructive and an adequate esthetic can result.

Originality/value

The method improves the reconstructive surgery and reduces the risk of a second intervention, and the psychological stress of the patient will be eliminated.

Keywords

Citation

Singare, S., Lian, Q., Ping Wang, W., Wang, J., Liu, Y., Li, D. and Lu, B. (2009), "Rapid prototyping assisted surgery planning and custom implant design", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 19-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552540910925027

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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