The design of othosis devices require the high skills in Reverse Engineering, CAD and soft-tooling techniques, especially in free-form modelling. We can minimize the skilled intervention by using direct scanning approaches (laser or structured-light scanners) to collect the external geometry of the human body for othosis device developments.

RE techniques are normally used for product developments. New products can be developed based on the available products or prototypes (such as wax models). The outputs of the RE process are the CAD models of the new products or newer versions  or an exact copy of the available product. These CAD models can be used directly for CAM, CNC processes; therefore, it is clear that RP techniques can be used for manufacturing the replacement joints such as hip and knee joint implants (internal prostheses) as well as external joints.

The other RP techniques that use CT/MRI scanners for data acquisition (not using the laser or structured-light scanners such as mentioned in this paper). Using CT/MRI scanners, we can reconstruct 3D models of internal structures, not only external ones. In this way, we can construct any anatomical structures from 2D scanning CT/MRI images. Based on these 3D models, there are many medical applications derived, including:

(i) Design and manufacturing of Biomodels, surgical aid tools and implants;
(ii) Development of surgical training models and medical devices; and
(iii) Design and manufacturing of scaffolds for tissue engineering.
(iv) Biomechanics: Finite Elements Analysis (FEA) applications, surgical simulations, animations.

 For more information about medical applications of Reverse Engineering, please see the following references of our research group publications in this area:

Hieu L.C, Bohez E, Vander Sloten J., Oris P, Phien H.N, Vatcharaporn E., and Binh P.H. Design and manufacturing of cranioplasty implants by 3-axis CNC milling. Technology and Health Care (2002) 10 (5): 413-423.

Hieu L.C, Bohez E., Vander Sloten J., Phien H.N., Vatcharaporn E., An P.V, To N.C, Binh P.H, and Oris P. Design and manufacturing of personalized implants and standardized templates for cranioplasty applications. IEEE ICIT'02 Proceedings - 2002 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Automations, Bangkok, Thailan (2002) 2: 1025-1030.

Hieu L.C, Bohez E., Vander Sloten J., Phien H.N., Vatcharaporn E., Binh P.H, and Oris P. Design for Medical Rapid Prototyping of Cranioplasty Implants. Rapid Prototyping Journal (2003) 9 (3): 175-186.

Hieu L.C, Vander Sloten J, Bohez E,  Phien H.N, Vatcharaporn E, An P.V, To N.C, Binh P.H. A cheap technical Solution for Cranioplasty treatments. Technology and Health Care(2004) 12:281-292.

Liliya S, Slavyana M, Nikolay Z., Le C.H, Redha T and Yuli T. Computer modeling of ankle-foot orthosis using CAD model of the human body. Proceedings of International Conference on Bionics, Biomechanics and Mechatronics 14-16 June 2004, Varna, Bulgaria (2004):12-13.

Liliya S., Le C.H, Nikolay Z, Redha T , Emilia T and Yuli T. 3D computer modeling of elbow orthosis using reverse engineering. Proceedings of International Conference on Bionics, Biomechanics and Mechatronics, 14-16 June 2004, Varna, Bulgaria (2004):18-19.

Pattijn V, Samson I, Vander Sloten J, Van Audekercke R, De Buck V and Swaelens B. Personalised titanium membrane reconstruction in tumour surgery. Phidias - EC funded Network Project on Rapid Prototyping in Medicine (2000) 4: 1-3.

Pattijn V, Samson I, Vander Sloten J, Van Audekercke R, Swaelens B and De Buck V. Medical image based, preformed titanium membranes for bone reconstructions: design study and first clinical, Proc Inst Mech Eng. (2002) 216 (1): 13-21.

Van Cleynenbreugel J, Schutyser F, Goffin J, Van Brussel K, Suetens P. Image-based planning and validation of C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation using personalized drill guides. Comput Aided Surg. (2002) 7(1):41-48.

Van Brussel K, Vander Sloten J, Van Audekercke R, Fabry G. Internal fixation of the spine in traumatic and scoliotic cases. The potential of pedicle screws, Technology and  Health Care (1996) 4(4):365-84.