Optical modeling of extraoral defects

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Prosthetics and Orthotics

Background:

• Conventional modeling for prosthetics using computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can cause significant patient stress.
• There is a need for less invasive and more comfortable methods for creating physical models for extraoral defects and body areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an optical modeling technique for creating prostheses, specifically an ocular prosthesis.
• To reduce the physical and psychological stress experienced by patients during the modeling process.

Main Methods:

• Digitizing the selected body part using optical 3-coordinate measuring technology to capture extensive data.
• Processing the digitized data by equalizing point clouds to generate a Computer Aided Design (CAD) model.
• Converting the CAD model into a physical model using stereolithography.

Main Results:

• The developed optical modeling process successfully creates digital and physical models of extraoral defects.
• The technique offers a less stressful alternative to conventional imaging methods like CT and MRI for patient modeling.
• Demonstrated application in fabricating an ocular prosthesis.

Conclusions:

• Optical modeling provides a patient-centered approach to prosthetic fabrication, minimizing discomfort.
• This advanced digital workflow streamlines the creation of accurate physical prostheses.
• The technique holds potential for various extraoral and body area applications, improving patient experience.