title: Interactive reconstructions of cranial 3D implants under MeVisLab as an alternative to commercial planning software.
abstract: In this publication, the interactive planning and reconstruction of cranial 3D Implants under the medical prototyping platform MeVisLab as alternative to commercial planning software is introduced. In doing so, a MeVisLab prototype consisting of a customized data-flow network and an own C++ module was set up. As a result, the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software prototype guides a user through the whole workflow to generate an implant. Therefore, the workflow begins with loading and mirroring the patients head for an initial curvature of the implant. Then, the user can perform an additional Laplacian smoothing, followed by a Delaunay triangulation. The result is an aesthetic looking and well-fitting 3D implant, which can be stored in a CAD file format, e.g. STereoLithography (STL), for 3D printing. The 3D printed implant can finally be used for an in-depth pre-surgical evaluation or even as a real implant for the patient. In a nutshell, our research and development shows that a customized MeVisLab software prototype can be used as an alternative to complex commercial planning software, which may also not be available in every clinic. Finally, not to conform ourselves directly to available commercial software and look for other options that might improve the workflow.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Computer Graphics and Vision, Faculty of Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 16, Graz, Austria.|BioTechMed-Graz, Krenngasse 37/1, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.affiliation: Institute for Computer Graphics and Vision, Faculty of Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 16, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tax
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Muammer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ücal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zefferer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Manufacturing and Life Quality Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Gord
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: von Campe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Computer Graphics and Vision, Faculty of Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 16, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmalstieg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Manufacturing and Life Quality Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012886:Skull; D012984:Software; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D057188:Workflow