Rapid Prototyping and Tooling Method

This research focuses a new method of using data obtained from CT images combined with digital CAD and rapid prototyping model for the surgical planning of difficult corrective and this new application enables the surgeon to choose the proper configuration and location of internal fixation of plate on humerus bone in the field of orthopaedics. This paper presents the procedure for making model of humerus bone using rapid prototyping technologies [RPT]. Production of prototypes for medical modeling (orthopaedics) in general can be classified into two broad categories based on manufacturing process route and type of data available, i.e. designed data and scanned/digitized data. Designed data is data that is created according to a person's idea on computer aided design (CAD) system. For this type of data, the designer has total control to modify, adjust and manipulate his design ideas to serve the functional purpose of his design. Producing models with this type of data is very straightforward and no further data treatment is required. CAD solid model can be directly converted to STL format for use in subsequent rapid prototyping process. For this type of data, the user has limited capability to modify and manipulate the geometry and further processing is required before they can be readily used by rapid prototyping system. For example, further data treatment is needed for Scanned data from computed tomography (CT) and agnatic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners which capture soft and hard tissue information based on density threshold value. The undesired soft tissue data is removed before it is sent to rapid prototyping machine for fabrication.