http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4658-1117
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ABSTRACT
Congenital facial anomalies, such as microtia (malformation of the external ear), lead to significant psychosocial effects starting from early childhood. Three-dimensional (3D) scanning and advanced manufacturing are being investigated as a cheaper and more personalised method of fabricating reconstructive treatments for patients compared to traditional approaches. To date, most case studies have used expensive 3D scanners, yet, there is potential for low-cost devices to provide comparable results. This study aimed to investigate these different approaches. Both ears of 16 adult participants were scanned with three devices: Artec Spider (Artec Group), Intel® RealSense™ (Intel), and the Apple iPhone® 7 (Apple Inc.) combined with photogrammetry using 90, 60 and 30 photographs. The scanning time, processing time, accuracy, completeness, resolution and repeatability of each technique were assessed using the Artec Spider as a reference scanner. Our results show that the iPhone had the longest processing time however, this decreased nine-fold when reducing the number of photos from 90 to 30. There was no significant difference in the accuracy, completeness or repeatability of the iPhone scans with 90 photographs (1.4 ± 0.6 mm, 79.9%, 1.0 ± 0.1 mm), 60 photographs (1.2 ± 0.2, 79.3%, 0.9 ± 0.2 mm) or 30 photographs (1.2 ± 0.3 mm, 74.3%, 1.0 ± 0.2 mm). The Intel RealSesne performed significantly worse in each parameter (1.8 ± 03 mm; 46.6%, 1.4 ± 0.5). Additionally, the RealSense had significantly lower resolution with not enough detail captured for the application. These results demonstrate that the ear can be accurately 3D scanned using iPhone photographs. We would recommend capturing between 30 and 60 photographs of the ear to create a scan that is accurate but without the downfall of long processing time. Using these methods we aim to provide a more comfortable setting for the patient and a lower-cost and more personalised ear prosthesis.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Maureen T Ross is currently completing her PhD in biomedical engineering at the Queensland University of Technology. Her project is developing new patient-specific reconstructive solutions for the external ear. She completed her undergraduate degrees in Medical Engineering and Biomedical Science at QUT. Her expertise includes 3D scanning and 3D printing for customised medical solutions. Maureen also spends time sharing her passion with high school students with the hope to inspire them to study STEM fields.
Rena Cruz is a PhD student at the Queensland University of Technology. She completed a combined bachelor's degree in mechatronic engineering and master’s degree in biomedical engineering at the University of New South Wales. Her project focuses on developing new 3D modelling and printing methods for creating customised ear prostheses.
Trent L Brooks-Richards has completed at Bachelor of Science with Honours First Class in neuroscience at the University of Queensland and is currently undertaking PhD at Queensland University of Technology. He specialises in areas of anatomy and physiology.
Louise M Hafner is currently Acting Head, School of Biomedical Sciences at the Queensland University of Technology. Louise is a senior member of the Infection and Immunity Program at the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and has been involved in infectious diseases research at QUT for over 28 years. In her academic role, she leads research on mucosal immunity to disease-causing organisms including Chlamydia and Streptococcus. Her focus is on bacterial infections of humans for which disease sequelae have devastating effects on our global population.
Sean K Powell is a Research Associate and Physics Lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology. Much of his research projects involve the development of novel computer algorithms for designing the scaffolds, and developing and controlling our 3D biofabricators. He is also working on the application of MRI and mathematical techniques for the characterisation of tissue growth and microfluidic pathway evolution in tissue engineering scaffolds. Sean’s current project is developing new treatment solutions for burns victims using advanced manufacturing techniques.
Maria A Woodruff is the QUT Director of the Herston Biofabrication Institute which is due to open in 2019 at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital. Professor Woodruff leads the Biofabrication and Tissue Morphology Group. She is an expert in bone tissue engineering with extensive experience in all aspects of biomaterial scaffold preparation techniques and pre-clinical models and has built a world-leading histology laboratory. Mia’s exciting vision is of a future where the fabrication of patient-specific replacement tissue is safe, cost-effective and routine. This dream drives her fascinating research to advance the high-tech sciences of tissue-engineering and biofabrication.
ORCID
Maureen T. Ross http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4658-1117
Trent L. Brooks-Richards http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9418-1743
Louise M. Hafner http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2117-4945
Sean K. Powell http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2054-2539
Maria A. Woodruff http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-5288