Design and additive manufacturing of patient-specific cranial and pelvic bone implants from computed tomography data

Abstract

Additive manufacturing processes are being increasingly explored by researchers around the world for a variety of medical applications, such as patient-specific models, implants, prosthetics, orthotics, drug delivery devices and tissue engineering scaffolds. The objective of this study is to obtain patient-specific models and implants from computed tomography (CT) scan data and validate the strength of implant using finite element analysis. For this purpose, CT scan data of two patients were obtained in digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) file format. DICOM files were converted into computer-aided design models using open source image processing software DeVIDE and saved in stereolithography (STL) format. The STL files were cleaned and corrected in Materialise’s Magics RP software. These models were loaded into 3D systems’ Geomagic Freeform software to design the customized implants. Finite element analysis was performed to check the strength of cranium implant. Maximum von Mises stress and deformation were found well below the allowable limit of the material. Finally, physical models of cranium, pelvic bone and implant prototypes, namely cranial, ilium, pubic symphysis and ischium were manufactured in polyamide PA2200 on a selective laser sintering machine. A simulation-based surface roughness evaluation was also performed to assess the range of surface roughness values (Ra) of various implant prototypes. The Ra values for implants were observed between 14.4 and 34.67 µm.