3D digital geometry designs for Poland’s syndrome using Magics and Geomagic® Freeform®

Abstract

Purpose – Poland’s syndrome patients often seek medical interventions to improve their aesthetic appearances. Design and manufacturing technologies make it possible to produce custom-made implants for such medical conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare the 3D digital geometries that were designed using Magics and Geomagic® Freeform® for two anonymous case studies of Poland’s syndrome patients.

Design/methodology/approach – Computed tomography data were acquired and processed in Mimics® to isolate the pectoralis muscles in STL file format. STL files were imported into Magics and Geomagic® Freeform® to design 3D digital geometries. Thereafter, comparative analyses were performed of the respective 3D digital geometries.

Findings – The angle between the vertical and oblique planes for both sides of the thorax was 6.5° for the female and 14° for the male. The surface areas and volumes of the geometries for the female were smaller than the male. Deviation analyses between the healthy side and reconstructed side of a thorax showed that 73 per cent of the test points for Magics and 78 per cent for Geomagic® Freeform® fell in the nominated tolerance region of > 5 and <15 mm for the female. For the male, it was 83 per cent for Magics and 88 per cent for Geomagic® Freeform®.

Practical implications – Geomagic® Freeform® provides a more versatile design environment; however, the STL editor Magics may be an option to design 3D geometries for less intricate and less contoured implants.

Originality/value – This was a first attempt to compare the 3D geometries for Poland’s syndrome designed with an STL editor to those designed with a computer-aided design program.