Reverse engineering in CAD model reconstruction of customized artificial joint

In order to meet the requirements of customized artificial joint design, and to reduce the production cycle and cost, we present a method to generate the complex surface of an artificial knee joint by co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) from the normative prosthesis, and form the model data base. First, this paper describes how to plan the measure method to get the better data points and how to deal with the point cloud data. Then, the free-form surfaces are constructed from the point cloud data using the reverse engineering software—Surfacer. Lastly, the solid CAD model of the artificial knee joint is created from the surfaces by extension, intersection and so on. These models formed the data base of the prosthesis, in which we can select a suitable kind of artificial knee joint model to customize for the patient. That is, we only need to change the local data of the corresponding CAD model to meet the different requirements of the patient.