Ultrasound Imaging Offers Promising Alternative to Create 3-D Models for Personalised Auricular Implants

Three-dimensional imaging and advanced manufacturing are being applied in health care research to create novel diagnostic and surgical planning methods, as well as personalised treatments and implants. For ear reconstruction, where a cartilage-shaped implant is embedded underneath the skin to re-create shape and form, volumetric imaging and segmentation processing to capture patient anatomy are particularly challenging. Here, we introduce 3-D ultrasound (US) as an available option for imaging the external ear and underlying auricular cartilage structure, and compare it with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) against micro-CT (µCT) as a high-resolution reference (gold standard). US images were segmented to create 3-D models of the auricular cartilage and compared against models generated from µCT to assess accuracy. We found that CT was significantly less accurate than the other methods (root mean square [RMS]: 1.30 ± 0.5 mm) and had the least contrast between tissues. There was no significant difference between MRI (RMS: 0.69 ± 0.2 mm) and US (0.55 ± 0.1 mm). US was also the least expensive imaging method at half the cost of MRI. These results unveil a novel use of ultrasound imaging that has not been presented before, as well as support its more widespread use in biofabrication as a low-cost imaging technique to create patient-specific 3D models and implants.

Effect of Different Bracket Prescriptions on Orthodontic Treatment Outcomes Measured by Three-dimensional Scanning

Various types of bracket are currently available, and different prescriptions are provided for the same type of tooth. There are no definite criteria, however, on which to base bracket selection. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the angulation and inclination of orthodontically aligned teeth when using different prescription brackets. Thirty patients undergoing orthodontic treatment for maxillary protrusion and crowding were enrolled. After orthodontic treatment with a pre-adjusted appliance, angulation and inclination were measured on dental casts obtained from these patients (10 each with 0.022 MBT, 0.022 Roth, or 0.018 Roth brackets). The dental casts were scanned and digitized using a 3-dimensional (3-D) scanner and measured with 3-D model measurement software. A significant difference was observed in the mean angulation of the mandibular canine between the 0.022 MBT (5.81°) and 0.018 Roth groups (9.07°). Greater mesial inclination was observed in the 0.018 Roth group. No significant difference was observed in any of the other regions measured. Differences in bracket prescription showed no clinical influence on treatment outcomes. A significant difference was observed in the mandibular canine (p<0.05), suggesting that consideration is required when selecting brackets.

A Potential Use of 3-D Scanning to Evaluate the Chemical Composition of Pork Meat

The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of 3-D scanning method in chemical composition evaluation of pork meat. The sampling material comprised neck muscles (1000 g each) obtained from 20 pork carcasses. The volumetric estimation process of the elements was conducted on the basis of point cloud collected using 3-D scanner. Knowing the weight of neck muscles, their density was calculated which was subsequently correlated with the content of basic chemical components of the pork meat (water, protein and fat content, determined by standard methods). The significant correlations (P ≤ 0.05) between meat density and water (r = 0.5213), protein (r = 0.5887), and fat (r = -0.6601) content were obtained. Based on the obtained results it seems likely to employ the 3-D scanning method to compute the meat chemical composition.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The use of the 3-D scanning method in industrial practice will allow to evaluate the chemical composition of meat in online mode on a dressing and fabrication line and in a rapid, noninvasive manner. The control of the raw material using the 3-D scanning will allow to make visual assessment more objective and will enable optimal standardization of meat batches prior to processing stage. It will ensure not only the repeatability of product quality characteristics, but also optimal use of raw material-lean and fat meat. The knowledge of chemical composition of meat is essential due to legal requirements associated with mandatory nutrition facts labels on food products.