A new approach on 3D scanning-printing technologies with medical applications

Abstract

The 3D printer is a very much discussed subject nowadays. It has many positive aspects and its purpose is to minimize costs, streamline complex processes, and shorten implementation times. From simple applications to complex systems, almost any assembly or subassembly can be reproduced using 3D printers, either based on a design or on a 3D real-world scan. Medicine is one of the domains that has turned to these devices, achieving amazing performance. 3D scanning and printing are basic elements in the development of new processes that were not possible at the moment. Thus, there are 3D models of the external ear of the human ear, applications in the repair of the epithelium affected by certain external factors, prostheses, medical models, and heart valves. In the present paper, we aim to explore, presenting advantages and disadvantages, existing systems for 3D scanning and designing of 3D models for printing in the field of orthopaedics.

Understanding Error Patterns: An Analysis of Alignment Errors in Rigid 3D Body Scans

“…In anthropometric surveys [5][6][7] and the fashion industry [8][9][10], 3D body scanners are attracting increasing interest, since a wide range of measurements can be collected within a short time span. Also in the medical field [11][12][13], they are used as a tool to obtain measurements for manufacturing made-to-measure prosthesis and prosthetic socks [14,15], gloves [16], and compression garments [17].…”