Application of rapid prototyping for development of custom–made orthopedics prostheses: An investigative study

Recently, as the result of the development in modern imaging, computerized three dimensional data processing and advanced engineering techniques, an prosthesis that match the skeletal anatomy can be accurately designed from computer aided design (CAD) technique and the physical model of prosthesis or skull replica can be produced through rapid prototyping (RP), rapid tooling (RT), and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) technology. This paper aims to describe CAD, CAM, RP systems and technologies for design and fabrication of custom-made hip prostheses. A novel methodology based on RP technology is applied to design and manufacture a custom-made hip prostheses. Results show that the RP models provide an accurate and useful tool for preoperative, surgical simulation and fabrication of such prostheses. Concerning the disadvantages such as time and cost for the hip prostheses design and need for surgical robot to perform the bone resection and preparing proper femoral canal, RP technologies fabricate the custom-made prostheses quickly, accurately and economically.