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Design of a 3-D surface scanner for lower limb prosthetics: a technical note
P K Commean1, K E Smith, M W Vannier
1Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
|July 1, 1996
Summary
A new optical surface scanner (OSS) rapidly captures 3D images of lower limb residua for prosthetic fitting. This noncontact system offers high precision, improving prosthetic care for amputees.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
Background:
- Accurate 3D surface data of lower limb residua is crucial for custom prosthetic socket design.
- Existing measurement methods can be time-consuming or lack comprehensive surface detail.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel noncontact optical surface range sensing imaging system for capturing lower limb residua.
- To assess the system's speed, precision, and accuracy compared to established measurement techniques.
Main Methods:
- Development of an optical surface scanner (OSS) using four CID cameras and three white light projectors for 360-degree coverage.
- 3D computer graphics reconstruction of captured residuum surfaces for visualization and measurement.
- System calibration using test objects to determine precision (<1 mm).
Main Results:
- The OSS system captures the entire lower limb residuum surface in under 1 second.
- Achieved system precision of less than 1 mm on calibration objects.
- Comparison with calipers, digitizers, and CT showed <1 mm precision on casts and ~2 mm on residua in below-knee amputees.
Conclusions:
- The developed OSS provides rapid, precise, and comprehensive 3D surface data of lower limb residua.
- This technology has the potential to enhance the design and fabrication of custom prosthetic sockets.
- The noncontact nature and speed of the OSS system offer significant advantages in clinical applications for amputee care.