Computer-aided optimal design of custom scoliosis braces considering clinical and patient evaluations.
Scoliosis causes an abnormal three dimensional curvature of the spine that is often treated by an orthotic device called brace. The objective of this research was to develop a new approach to automatically identify the optimal design of custom-built brace, based on clinical and patient evaluations. In this approach, torso geometry of the scoliosis patient was achieved using a 3-D imaging system that generated a 3-D torso surface model, which was modified using a custom CAD system to design the 3-D brace surface model. Two design parameters, a translational correction factor and a rotational correction factor, were selected to design the brace geometry from the torso geometry. The 3-D digital brace was evaluated by three clinical evaluation measures (imbalance, rib hump and principal axis angle reduction) and one patient evaluation measure (discomfort). A multi-objective optimization method was employed to identify the optimal design parameters considering both clinical and patient evaluations.
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB, Canada.
Daniel
D
Visser
Deyi
D
Xue
Janet L
JL
Ronsky
James
J
Harder
Ronald F
RF
Zernicke
D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001915:Braces; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011187:Posture; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000379:methods