CT/MR imaging: a design tool for custom orthosis

Orthotics attempts to correct imperfections of the human body. These deficiencies can be either congenital or due to injury. Orthotic devices have continuously evolved over the years and range in sophistication from simple joint braces to spinal body jackets. Generic orthoses, such as knee braces, come in various sizes and can be purchased over-the-counter. Sophisticated orthoses, such as those used to correct scoliosis, have to be custom made. Each of such orthoses has to be fabricated for one particular patient and requires the patient's exact geometry. The conventional technique to acquire patient geometric information has generally been casting. This latter is a time proven method of capturing the geometry of body sections of interest. However, in certain situations, casting might not always be the best alternative to obtain patient geometric data.

This paper presents a new approach to acquire patient geometric information using CT/MR imaging. The proposed approach can help in cases where casting is not the best option.

Using CT/MR imaging to acquire patient geometry is shown to be feasible both clinically and economically.