3D Geometry Scanning and Structural Integrity Assessment to Advance Meniscus Allograft Transplantation.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Meniscal allograft transplantation is vital for restoring joint function but limited by graft availability and quality.
• Current methods for evaluating donor meniscus grafts lack precision in capturing 3D geometry and subtle defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an integrated system for accurate 3D geometry capture and surface defect detection in meniscus allografts.
• To assess the system's accuracy, workflow feasibility, and impact on tissue viability.

Main Methods:

• Developed an optical 3D scanning system combined with curvature-based analysis for meniscus allograft evaluation.
• Validated system accuracy against micro-computed tomography (μCT) and stereomicroscopy.
• Assessed workflow reproducibility and tissue viability under different scanning conditions.

Main Results:

• The system provides μCT-comparable accuracy for 3D geometry and defect assessment.
• Scanning through bags in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) maintained high accuracy and tissue viability.
• Curvature metrics reliably identified various defects with measurements equivalent to stereomicroscopy.

Conclusions:

• The portable system enables rapid, accurate 3D scanning and quantitative defect detection for meniscus allografts.
• It offers a practical solution for improved graft matching and screening in tissue banks and clinics.
• The technology has potential applications for other cartilaginous tissues.