Design of a Digital Imaging and Machining System Programme for Human Bone Implants

Abstract

Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is now used in the medical field as well. This paper outlines the design process and the final software package for a human bone implants. A Computer Tomography (CT) scan was used to scan the knee bone and the scanned pictures were sent to Digital Imaging Communication in Medicine (DICOM) viewer. The DICOM images with Digital Communication in Medicine ( DCM) format were converted to Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) format JPEG format images were converted to to PDF format. Subsequently a PDF to Drawing (DWG) converter was used to convert the PDF file to DWG file format compatible with Mastercam. The final stage of the system involved generation of the NC (Numerical Control) code for the knee bone drawing and machining of the bone implant by the CNC machine. Oracle database express system has been used to design platform. Keywords—Computer Aided Design (CAD), Digital Imaging Communication in Medicine (DICOM), Computer Tomography (CT), Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, Human bone Implant, Imaging,.