R_Bibb_Medical_Modelling_The_Application_of_Adv.pdf

1.1 Background
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Introduction
The purpose of this book is to describe some of the many possibilities,
techniques and challenges involved in the fi eld of medical modelling.
Medical modelling, sometimes called biomodelling, is the creation of highly
accurate physical models of human anatomy directly from medical scan
data. The process involves capturing human anatomy data, processing the
data to isolate individual tissue or organs, optimising the data for the technology
to be used and fi nally building the model using rapid prototyping
(RP) techniques. Rapid prototyping is the general name coined to describe
computer-controlled machines that are able to manufacture physical items
directly from three-dimensional computer data. Originally, these machines
were developed to enable designers and engineers to build models of
objects they had designed using computer-aided design software (CAD).
These prototypes allowed them to ensure that what they had designed onscreen
fi tted together with all of the other components of the product being
developed. Therefore, the machines were quickly developed to produce
models of very high accuracy as rapidly as possible.
In the 1990s, it was realised that RP machines could utilise other types
of three-dimensional computer data, such as that obtained from medical
scanners. Software was developed to enable the medical scan data to interface
with the RP machines and medical modelling began. Since then the
fi eld has developed enormously to cover all kinds of applications ranging
from forensic science to reconstructive surgery. Early success and clear
demonstration of benefi ts has led to widespread interest in the technologies
from many medical specialities. However, with each development more and
more clinicians, surgeons, engineers and researchers are realising the potential
benefi ts of RP techniques, which in turn places new challenges on those
people whose job it is to build these models.
This book aims to describe the stages required to produce high quality
medical models and offer an insight into the techniques and technologies
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