Manufacturing Polymer Model of Anatomical Structures with Increased Accuracy Using CAx and AM Systems for Planning...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Manufacturing Technology

Background:

• Current medical practices integrate industrial techniques like 3D printing and reverse engineering.
• Industry 4.0 principles are increasingly applied in medical operations and high-accuracy model production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a procedure that optimizes tomographic data processing for hip and knee joint models.
• To enhance reconstruction accuracy and enable metallic artifact reduction in diagnostic images.
• To develop detailed numerical models of anatomical structures and implants.

Main Methods:

• Applied Industry 4.0 techniques including reverse engineering, 3D-CAD modeling, and Fused Filament Fabrication.
• Developed numerical models by averaging segmentation thresholds and tested Polylactic Acid (PLA) material properties.
• Optimized model manufacturing by adjusting density, infill, and support structures.

Main Results:

• Shortened tomographic data processing time and increased reconstruction accuracy for hip and knee joints.
• Achieved partial removal of metallic artifacts from diagnostic images.
• Reduced manufacturing costs and production time while enhancing printout accuracy.
• Verified geometric accuracy and reduced surface roughness of manufactured models.

Conclusions:

• The developed procedure significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of medical model production.
• Optimized PLA material selection and Fused Filament Fabrication parameters lead to cost-effective, high-fidelity models.
• This approach facilitates detailed and meticulous treatment planning in medicine.