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Biomedical subjects

H V Crawford

Publications and source records attributed to H V Crawford.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

The CADCAM contribution to customized orthopaedic implants.

CADCAM (computer aided design/manufacture) production methods are often associated with mass production; working in the medical field at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the requirement is for one-off, individualized implants. Using a knowledge-based system, implant designs are produced from X-ray data. Assembly from modular components has greatly reduced the production time of implants for bone tumour cases. CADCAM techniques are also used in the production of custom-made hip replacements using digitized data gathered from radiographs. Femoral canal shape is calculated and the optimal implant designed and manufactured from titanium alloy on the Department's CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines.

Computer-Aided Design

Prosthetic shape replication using a computer controlled carving technique.

This paper describes a carving machine which is the most recently developed module in the suite of CAD/CAM equipment for high technology manufacture and supply of prostheses. It provides the link between the Computer Aided Socket Design (CASD) system and the Rapidform socket manufacturing process. Using the coordinate data produced by the CASD system this machine, under computer guidance, carves from a large block of suitable material a three dimensional object; the equivalent of the rectified plaster model produced by conventional techniques. This provides the form for the fabrication of a socket and the facility completes an integrated system for fabricating, rapidly and cheaply, high quality lightweight prostheses for patients.

Amputation Stumps