A Study on 3-dimensional body scan method in measuring body surface area by comparing with direct coating method

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristic of the 3 Dimensional (3D) scanning method in measuring body surface area (BSA) and to know whether the 3D scanning method is suitable in measuring the BSA.The subjects were geometric forms, cylinder and hemisphere and mannequins of Korean women. One of the mannequins was standard Korean women of age twenty. And the other was life-casted with real women of age twenty also. We used paper-coating as a direct BSA measurement method. In 3D scan method, we scanned with WB4 scanner (Cyberware, US)In the result of repeatability and accuracy examination with geometric forms, repeatability was better in direct coating method with simple geometry, cylinder, but with hemisphere 3D scan method was better. The accuracy was better in 3D scan method with both cylinder and hemisphere.The comparison between BSA of 3-dimensional body scan method and that of direct method by body segments showed that there was large difference in hand, feet, and front bodice. They were parts of complex structure or parts hidden by other body segment. We also examined the change of surface area by the editing in 3D scan method. It showed that the surface area of 3D scan data became close to that of direct method after editing. The body parts enhanced much by editing was foot, head and upper arm in according to order. This showed that editing procedure is necessary in 3D scan method. The difference of whole body BSA between 3D scan method and direct method was within 2%. So this study suggests that 3D Scan method can be used as body surface measurement method.