Measurement of breast volume using body scan technology(computer-aided anthropometry)

Area of Science:

• Medical imaging
• Anthropometry
• Surgical planning

Background:

• Accurate breast volume assessment is crucial for effective breast surgery and bra design.
• Existing methods may lack precision or invasiveness.
• Previous validation of the 3D laser scanning method was performed on mastectomy patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline and expand a non-invasive computer-aided anthropometric (CAA) method for breast volume measurement.
• To validate the method in patients undergoing breast reduction surgery.
• To provide a reproducible technique for clinical and design applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a whole body 3D laser surface anatomy scanner (Cyberware WBX).
• Applied the computer-aided anthropometric (CAA) method to extract breast volumes from 3D scan data.
• Collected data from patients enrolled in a breast reduction study at Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated the non-invasive measurement of breast volume using 3D laser scanning.
• Expanded the application of the CAA method to a new patient cohort (breast reduction).
• Provided a detailed, step-by-step protocol for replication.

Conclusions:

• The 3D laser surface anatomy scanner and CAA method offer a reliable tool for non-invasive breast volume assessment.
• This technique can improve the accuracy and consistency of surgical outcomes.
• The described method serves as a valuable resource for clinical practice and design development.