Three-dimensional Body Scanning Research Articles

Personalized compression therapeutic textiles: digital design, development, and biomechanical evaluation.

Physical-based external compression medical modalities could provide sustainable interfacial pressure dosages for daily healthcare prophylaxis and clinic treatment of chronic venous disease (CVD). However, conventional ready-made compression therapeutic textiles (CTs) with improper morphologies and ill-fitting of pressure exertions frequently limit patient compliance in practical application. Therefore, the present study fabricated the personalized CTs for various subjects through the proposed comprehensive manufacturing system. The individual geometric dimensions and morphologic profiles of lower extremities were characterized according to three-dimensional (3D) body scanning and reverse engineering technologies. Through body anthropometric analysis and pressure optimization, the knitting yarn and machinery variables were determined as the digital design strategies for 3D seamless fabrication of CTs. Next, to visually simulate the generated pressure mappings of developed CTs, the subject-specific 3D finite element (FE) CT-leg modelings with high accuracy and acceptability (pressure prediction error ratio: 11.00% ± 7.78%) were established based on the constructed lower limb models and determined tissue stiffness. Moreover, through the actual in vivo trials, the prepared customized CTs efficiently (Sig. <0.05; ρ = 0.97) distributed the expected pressure requirements referring to the prescribed compression magnitudes (pressure error ratio: 10.08% ± 7.75%). Furthermore, the movement abilities and comfortable perceptions were evaluated subjectively for the ergonomic wearing comfort (EWC) assessments. Thus, this study promotes the precise pressure management and clinical efficacy for targeted users and leads an operable development approach for related medical biomaterials in compression therapy.

Relationship between firefighter protective clothing design ease and heat stress

PurposeClothing fit, including garment ease and drape, impacts the volume of air between clothing layers and the body, directly affecting the amount of heat that can be transferred through a multi-layer clothing system. As most acute firefighting fatalities are caused by overexertion and heat strain, the purpose of this research was to determine the impact of ease allowances on air gaps in structural firefighting turnout suits and their subsequent effect on total heat loss (THL) when worn on a three-dimensional form.Design/methodology/approachFour turnout suits with chest ease allowances of 6″, 8″, 10″ and 12″ were evaluated using an ANDI dynamic sweating thermal manikin. The average predicted manikin THL of each ensemble was calculated from the thermal and evaporative resistance measurements. A three-dimensional (3D) body scanner was utilized to calculate the distance and volume of clothing air gaps between the base layer and each turnout suit.FindingsResults demonstrate that reductions in upper body ease measurements trend towards statistically significant increases in THL, to a point, with fit limitations being reached before benefits can be significantly realized. An increase in standard chest ease measurements significantly decreased heat loss, even when forced convection from movement was considered.Originality/valueThis is the first article of its kind to explore the relationship between garment ease and predicted manikin THL, especially for fire service protective clothing. Findings indicate a valid recommendation for turnout gear designers and manufacturers to optimize clothing fit to improve breathability and potentially reduce incidents of heat strain in the fire service.

Artificial intelligence-based precise prediction of anthropometric data for female garment pattern-making

Anthropometric data form the cornerstone of garment pattern-making. This article introduces an artificial intelligence-driven approach, employing a back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN), to predict the anthropometric data essential for crafting patterns for women’s upper tops. The model adeptly processes minimal critical data from women’s upper bodies, yielding projected dimensions that are arduous to manually measure yet crucial for tailoring body-fitting tops. Utilising a three-dimensional body scanner for accurate anthropometric data collection from 196 women in Sichuan Province, China, our study compares the BP-ANN model with a Linear Regression (LR) model. Results demonstrate superior predictive accuracy for BP-ANN. Notably, the BP-ANN model excels in efficiency and accuracy, particularly in challenging anthropometric parameters. The findings underscore the transformative potential of AI-based models in optimizing garment production processes, offering a precise alternative to traditional methods. This research contributes valuable insights for the integration of AI technology in advancing pattern-making practices.

Determination of dynamic air gap thickness and analysis of its relationship with firefighters’ joint movement

ABSTRACT Objectives. The purpose of this study was to calculate the dynamic air gap thickness between the human body and the turnout gear. Relationships between the air gap thickness and joint range of motion (ROM) were also explored. Methods. The air gap thickness and joint ROM of 12 male firefighters walking in a control condition with no self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and three varying-strapped SCBAs were measured using three-dimensional (3D) body scanning and 3D inertial motion capture. The interpolation technique was employed to predict the air gap thickness curve during walking. The dynamic air gap thickness was compared with the joint ROM to see how they relate to the location and percentage of movement restriction. Results. During the walking, the air gap fluctuated as a sine curve. Carrying SCBA reduced the air gap thickness at the trunk most (F = 11.17, p < 0.001, η 2 = 0.63), and adjusting the shoulder strap length altered the air gap distribution at the trunk. The reduced air gap at the pelvis caused an incremental restriction on pelvis rotation. Conclusions. A compatibility design of the shoulder strap and hip belt in SCBA with the turnout jacket is suggested.

Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of 3D facial measurements

Three-dimensional (3D) body scanning technology has applications for obtaining anthropometric data in human-centered and product development fields. The reliability of 3D measurements gathered from 3D scans must be assessed to understand the degree to which this technology is appropriate for use in place of manual anthropometric methods. The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of 3D facial measurements were assessed among four novice raters using 3D landmarking. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) statistics were calculated for the 3D measurement data collected in three phases to assess baseline reliabilities and improvements in reliabilities as the result of additional training and experience. Based on the results of this study, the researchers found that the collection of 3D measurement data, by multiple raters and using 3D landmarking methods, yielded a high percentage of ICC statistics in the good to excellent (>0.75 ICC) reliability range. Rater training and experience were important considerations in improving intra- and inter-rater reliabilities.

Study on the distribution characteristics of clearance in clothing and influence on pressure

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the distribution characteristics of airflow in mine ventilation suits with different pipeline structures when the human body is bent at various angles. On this basis, the stress points are extracted to investigate the pressure variation of a ventilation suit under different ventilation rates and pipeline structures.Design/methodology/approachBased on the three-dimensional human body scanner, portable pressure test and other instruments, a human experiment was conducted in an artificial cabin. The study analyzed and compared the distribution characteristics of clearance under three different pipeline structures, as well as the pressure variation of the ventilation suit.FindingsThe study found that the clearance in front of two pipeline structures gradually increased in size as the degree of bending increased, and there was minimal clearance in the chest and back. The longitudinal structure exhibits a significant decrease in clearance compared to the spiral structure. The pressure value of the spiral pipeline structure with the same ventilation volume is low, followed by the transverse structure, while the longitudinal structure has the highest pressure value. The increase in clothing pressure value of a spiral pipeline structured ventilation suit with varying ventilation volumes is minimal.Originality/valueThe ventilation suit has a promising future as a type of personal protective equipment for mitigating heat damage in mines. It is of great value to study the pipeline structure of the ventilation suit for human comfort.

Generative deep learning furthers the understanding of local distributions of fat and muscle on body shape and health using 3D surface scans

BackgroundBody shape, an intuitive health indicator, is deterministically driven by body composition. We developed and validated a deep learning model that generates accurate dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans from three-dimensional optical body scans (3DO), enabling compositional analysis of the whole body and specified subregions. Previous works on generative medical imaging models lack quantitative validation and only report quality metrics.MethodsOur model was self-supervised pretrained on two large clinical DXA datasets and fine-tuned using the Shape Up! Adults study dataset. Model-predicted scans from a holdout test set were evaluated using clinical commercial DXA software for compositional accuracy.ResultsPredicted DXA scans achieve R2 of 0.73, 0.89, and 0.99 and RMSEs of 5.32, 6.56, and 4.15 kg for total fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), and total mass, respectively. Custom subregion analysis results in R2s of 0.70–0.89 for left and right thigh composition. We demonstrate the ability of models to produce quantitatively accurate visualizations of soft tissue and bone, confirming a strong relationship between body shape and composition.ConclusionsThis work highlights the potential of generative models in medical imaging and reinforces the importance of quantitative validation for assessing their clinical utility.

A novel optimization approach for bio-design of therapeutic compression stockings with pressure fit

For physical-based compression therapeutic modalities, especially compression stockings (CSs), their pressure performances are necessarily evaluated by the standardized cylinder leg mannequins before biological applications. However, the insufficient pressure supply caused by morphological shape diversities between circular leg mannequins and irregular bio-bodies limits the clinical effectiveness and user compliance of CSs. Therefore, an operable and efficiency approach for optimization bio-design and digital development of CSs with enhanced compression performances needs to be proposed. The present study has adopted three-dimensional (3D) body scanning and reverse engineering technologies for lower limb cross-sectional geometric characterization and morphological classification. The irregularity of biological leg circumferential slices was determined and clustered as four levels relating to individual curvature variations. Sequentially, a new pressure prediction model was constructed through characterized geometric variations for bio-based bodies, then its acceptability was validated with good agreement by wearing trials (mean prediction accuracy was 2.53 ± 0.52 mmHg). Thus, the digital pressure reshaped development guidance was obtained based on the classified irregular levels and established pressure prediction models. Consequently, this study provides a novel reliable optimization bio-design solution for manufacturing of therapeutic compression textiles and facilitates the medical efficacy and precision of compression therapy in practical use.

Novel Three-Dimensional Body Scan Anthropometry versus MR-Pelvimetry for Vaginal Breech Delivery Assessment.

In this prospective, monocentric study, we investigated the potency of a novel three-dimensional (3D) body scanner for external pelvic assessment in birth planning for intended vaginal breech delivery. Between April 2021 and June 2022, 73 singleton pregnancies with intended vaginal birth from breech presentation (>36.0 weeks of gestation) were measured using a pelvimeter by Martin, a three-dimensional body scanner, and MR-pelvimetry. Measures were related to vaginal birth and intrapartum cesarean section. A total of 26 outer pelvic dimensions and 7 inner pelvic measurements were determined. The rate of successful vaginal breech delivery was 56.9%. The AUC (area under the curve) of the obstetric conjugate (OC) measured by MRI for predicting the primary outcome was 0.62 (OR 0.63; p = 0.22), adjusted for neonatal birth weight 0.66 (OR 0.60; p = 0.19). Of the 22 measured 3D body scanner values, the ratio of waist girth to maternal height showed the best prediction (AUC = 0.71; OR 1.27; p = 0.015). The best predictive pelvimeter value was the distantia spinarum with an AUC of 0.65 (OR = 0.80). The 3D body scanner technique is at least equal to predict successful vaginal breech delivery compared to MRI diagnostics. Further large-scale, prospective studies are needed to verify these results.

Laser-Based 3D Body Scanning Reveals a Higher Prevalence of Abdominal Obesity than Tape Measurements: Results from a Population-Based Sample.

The global obesity epidemic is a major public health concern, and accurate diagnosis is essential for identifying at-risk individuals. Three-dimensional (3D) body scanning technology offers several advantages over the standard practice of tape measurements for diagnosing obesity. This study was conducted to validate body scan data from a German population-based cohort and explore clinical implications of this technology in the context of metabolic syndrome. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 354 participants from the Study of Health in Pomerania that completed a 3D body scanning examination. The agreement of anthropometric data obtained from 3D body scanning with manual tape measurements was analyzed using correlation analysis and Bland-Altman plots. Classification agreement regarding abdominal obesity based on IDF guidelines was assessed using Cohen's kappa. The association of body scan measures with metabolic syndrome components was explored using correlation analysis. Three-dimensional body scanning showed excellent validity with slightly larger values that presumably reflect the true circumferences more accurately. Metabolic syndrome was highly prevalent in the sample (31%) and showed strong associations with central obesity. Using body scan vs. tape measurements of waist circumference for classification resulted in a 16% relative increase in the prevalence of abdominal obesity (61.3% vs. 52.8%). These results suggest that the prevalence of obesity may be underestimated using the standard method of tape measurements, highlighting the need for more accurate approaches.

Exploring online consumer reviews of customized apparel products

PurposeVirtual try-on (VTO) technology with three-dimensional (3D) body scanning in a mobile application is a relatively new technique for selling custom-fit apparel. VTO involves scanning and measuring one's body and visualizing the fit of a garment on a 3D avatar. The purpose of this study is to explore consumers' experiences toward the custom-fit T-shirts and online mass customization (MC) services using the VTO technology found in online consumer reviews (OCRs).Design/methodology/approachA total of 297 OCRs were collected from the Amazon's Made for You site that uses VTO technology for the MC process. A qualitative content analysis, within a mixed method research process, was used to determine systematically the meanings within qualitative data with quantitative results. In the qualitative approach, combinations of two coding processes were employed, which were concept-driven (i.e., deductive/a priori) and data-driven (i.e., inductive/emergent) coding processes. In the quantitative approach, the prevalence of each coding in terms of its valence was calculated based on frequencies. Intercoder reliability reached 96 per cent.FindingsIn OCRs of customized apparel products and online MC services using VTO technology, consumers described expectations, perceived performance, dis/confirmation, dis/satisfaction, outcomes of dis/satisfaction and descriptive information. Those with expectations often expressed skepticism about the product and the MC process using VTO technology at the pre-consumption stage. In OCRs, they used four product dimensions and two service dimensions of perceived performance. Consumers had positive (negative) confirmation when the performance of the T-shirts and/or services worked better (worse) than their expectations. The OCRs also included dis/satisfaction with a product and/or service, its outcomes and descriptive information.Originality/valueThis study identified a resulting framework to identify the content in OCRs of the custom-fit T-shirts and online MC services that use VTO technology. This study extends the expectation confirmation theory by adding multiple dimensions (i.e., four product dimensions and two service dimensions) as well as more outcomes of dis/satisfaction (not limited to repurchase intentions). This study provides practical suggestions for online MC companies who are using or planning to use VTO technology on how to improve consumers' satisfaction with customized T-shirts using VTO technology.

Clinical Role of Three-Dimensional Body Scanners in Presenting Direct Anthropometrics for Estimation of Body Composition: Three-Dimensional Body Scanner and Body Composition

Clinical Role of Three-Dimensional Body Scanners in Presenting Direct Anthropometrics for Estimation of Body Composition: Three-Dimensional Body Scanner and Body Composition

Female firefighters’ increased risk of occupational exposure due to ill-fitting personal protective clothing

Despite the growing female firefighter population, firefighting gear was originally designed with only the male human form in mind. As a result, women in the fire service experience issues of improper fit and injuries at rates exponentially higher than their male counterparts. Areas of ill-fit, specifically in interfaces, can increase the risk of occupational exposure for women in the fire service. The purpose of this research was to determine fit and sizing issues of personal protective clothing (PPC) to improve female firefighters’ comfort, mobility, and safety. A mixed methods approach was adopted including a nationwide questionnaire, end-user focus groups, and remote three-dimensional body scanning of 189 female structural and wildland firefighters. Between 15%–21% of female firefighters were found to intentionally leave off a part of their PPC at least “sometimes,” if not “nearly always,” with the coat and pants being the primary items not donned. 100% of participants had wrist and ankle circumferences smaller than the smallest size garment’s wrist and pant leg openings per the wildland sizing system, indicating interface areas and wildland PPC have the greatest opportunities for design and fit improvement. This study gathered and created the first and largest U.S. female firefighter anthropometric database. Overall results indicate female firefighters are wearing PPC with significant fit issues that not only reduce their comfort and restrict their mobility but pose increased safety risks related to occupational exposure.

Three-dimensional simulation of the convective heat transfer coefficient of the human body under various air velocities and human body angles

This study aimed to investigate the effects of air velocity and human body angles on the convective heat transfer coefficient (hc) of the whole body and body segments. A 20-zone computational thermal manikin and climate chamber were constructed using a three-dimensional body scanning technique and ANSYS software. Subsequently, the hc values were calculated through computational fluid dynamics simulation and validated against the measurement and simulation results in the literature. Then, 50 cases (10 air velocities ranging from 0 to 20 m/s and 5 human body angles of 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°) were considered to further analyze the combined effects of air velocity and human body angle on hc. The results indicated that the hc values of both the whole body and body segments increase exponentially with the air velocity. The whole body hc increases by approximately 23 times when the air velocity increases from 0.2 to 20 m/s. On the other hand, whole body hc is lower at a human body angle of 90° than at other angles; the human body angle has a significant effect on the hc of body segments. The difference in the hc of the whole body does not exceed 8.5 W/m2·K for the five human body angles, but the largest difference for the body parts reaches 52 W/m2·K. Finally, the combined effect of air velocity and human body angle on hc was expressed by a regression equation. This study can offer insights into the heat transfer process between the human body and its thermal environment, as well as human thermoregulation and skin burn injuries.

Corresponding measurement-based patternmaking method for leggings using three-dimensional body scanning technology

Based on 3D body scanning, this study developed the corresponding measurement-based patternmaking (CMP) method for leggings that could systematically provide an excellent fit and control tightness for different body parts. The CMP method for leggings was qualitatively validated by comparing the fit suitability of the produced leggings prototypes through a wear test. The results suggest that the CMP method is an option to design leggings with outstanding suitability in terms of appearance satisfaction, size satisfaction, compression satisfaction, usefulness in movement, ease of movement, ease in donning and doffing for different body parts. In particular, the graduated application percentage (GAP) provided an advantage in usefulness in movement, while the fixed application percentage (FAP) showed an advantage in ease in donning and doffing. As such, this study suggests selecting the CMP method of the application percentage (AP) depending on the purpose of use. This study demonstrated that the proposed method ensured validity in directly implementing a leggings pattern with 3D body scanning and body measurement alone.

3D Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer of Infants in the Indoor Environment

This study aimed to investigate the heat transfer around the infant surface in the indoor environment based on computational fluid dynamics analysis. A three-dimensional numerical model containing a virtual infant manikin was developed in COMSOL software. The high-quality geometry model of the infant was obtained using three-dimensional body scanning technology. Governing fluid flow and energy equations were solved along with the low Re k–ε turbulence model. Real-scale measurements were carried out to determine the accuracy of the developed numerical model. Good agreement was found between the simulation results and the experimental data. The results showed that, at room temperature of 21oC, the convective heat transfer coefficient was 64.2% greater than the radiative heat transfer coefficient, which demonstrated that the convective heat transfer was the main approach for heat exchange between the infant and its surrounding environment. Moreover, the largest convective heat transfer coefficients were observed at the forearm and calf, indicating the importance of the additional thermal protection at these regions. The findings will be beneficial to provide some instructions on infant thermal care for caregivers.

Experimental test and theoretical calculation of the fracture height limit of gas pipe flow to Darcy flow

Low-speed flow experiments in which ultra-fine copper tubes are used to simulate micro-fractures in carbonate strata are conducted to analyze the variations of gas flow state in fractures of different fracture heights, determine flow state transition limit and transition interval, and establish the calculation method of flow state transition limit. The results show that the ideal Hagen-Poiseuille flow is the main form of gas flow in large fractures. Due to the decrease of fracture height, the gas flow in the fracture changes from Hagen-Poiseuille flow with ideal smooth seam surface to non-Hagen-Poiseuille flow, and the critical point of the transition is the boundary of flow state transition. After the fracture height continues to decrease to a certain extent below the boundary of the flow state transition fracture height, the form of gas flow gradually changes to the ideal Darcy flow, thus the transition interval of the gas flow state in the closing process of fracture can be determined. Based on the three-dimensional microconvex body scanning of the fracture surface, the material properties of fracture and properties of fluid in the fracture, a method for calculating the boundary of flow state transition is established. The experimental test and theoretical calculation show that the limit of the fracture height for the transition from pipe flow to Darcy flow is about twice the sum of the maximum height of the microconvex bodies on the upper and lower sides of the fracture.

A study on the shaping efficacy grading model of underbust corsets based on three-dimensional body scanning

The aim is to establish a shaping efficacy grading model for underbust corsets by exploring the pressure and shaping efficacy. Nine Chinese female college students aged 20–25 years old were employed in the pressure test and shaping efficacy experiment. In the pressure test, the pressures were measured at 31 points before and after wearing underbust corsets. In the shaping efficacy experiment, participants underwent three-dimensional body scanning before and after wearing underbust corsets. By analyzing the relationship between the pressure and shaping efficacy of underbust corsets, a shaping efficacy grading model characterized by pressure was established using the indirect grading method: when the comprehensive pressure values of the underbust circumference (UBC), waist circumference (WC) and abdominal circumference (AC) are 0–1.8, 1.8–2.4 and 2.4–3.4 kPa, the shaping efficacy of underbust corsets should be Grades I, II and III, respectively. Finally, the applicability of the grading model obtained is discussed, and the optimized model of underbust corsets based on the average pressure values is established: when the average pressure values of the UBC, WC and AC are 0–1.4, 1.4–2.1 and 2.1–3.4 kPa, the shaping efficacy of underbust corsets should be Grades I, II and III, respectively.

Comparative study of moisture adaptable breast support using engineered fabric design in seamless knitted sports bras

PurposeThis study aims to investigate if engineered compression variations using moisture-responsive knitted fabric design can improve breast support in seamless knitted sports bras.Design/methodology/approachAn experimental approach was used to integrate a novel moisture-responsive fabric panel into a seamless knitted bra, and the resulting compression variability in dry versus wet conditions were compared with those of a control bra. Air permeability and elongation testing of between breasts fabric panels was conducted in dry and wet conditions, followed by three-dimensional body scanning of eight human participants wearing the two bras in similar conditions. Questionnaires were used to evaluate perceived comfort and breast support of both bras in both conditions.FindingsAir permeability test results showed that the novel panel had the highest variance between dry and wet conditions, confirming its moisture-responsive design, and increased its elongation coefficient in both wale and course directions in wet condition. There were significant main effects of bra type and body location on breast compression measurements. Breast circumferences in the novel bra were significantly larger than in the control bra condition. The significant two-way interaction between bra type and moisture condition showed that the control bra lost compressive power in wet condition, whereas the novel bra became more compressive when wet. Changes in compression were confirmed by participants’ perception of tighter straps and drier breast comfort.Originality/valueThese findings add to the limited scientific knowledge of moisture adaptive bra design using engineered knitted fabrics via advanced manufacturing technologies, with possible applications beyond sports bras, such as bras for breast surgery recovering patients.

Whole body shapes and fit problems among overweight and obese men in the United States

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore body shapes among overweight and obese men and examine fit issues based on the current ASTM sizing standards related to the categorized body shapes.Design/methodology/approachThe SizeUSA data and the additional data extracted using the ImageTwin (TC2-19) software were used. To categorize body shapes, principal component (PC) analysis with varimax rotation, hierarchical cluster analysis for an elbow method and K-mean cluster analysis were employed. Comparing the categorized body shapes and ASTM sizing charts, a cross-tabulation was performed to test associations between fit analyses for top and bottom for the body shape groups. Furthermore, an analysis of variance and pairwise comparison were performed to identify differences in mean values of size drops between two body parts across the different body shape groups.FindingsUsing a three-dimensional (3D) body scanning technology and 3D virtual avatars, three body shapes for overweight and obese men emerged: Rectangle-curvy, bottom hourglass-hip tilt and top hourglass-straight shapes. Further, overweight and obese male consumers are not likely to find a perfect fit from apparel companies who developed their sizing charts based on the men's and big men's ASTM standards. Notably, the big men's ASTM sizing standard did not work for most overweight and obese men the United States.Originality/valueDespite the notable increase in the US population that is overweight and obese, most overweight and obese men have had fit problems due to the differences in their body shapes as compared to the standardized body shape used in the current sizing system. The results of this study suggest apparel companies who are targeting overweight and obese male consumers in the United States updating their sizing systems in order to solve fit problems.