Medical Modelling : The Application of Advanced Design and Development Techniques in Medicine

Research into medical modelling and the application of design and product development technologies in medicine and surgery requires a multidisciplinary approach.

Designed to be accessible to all disciplines, with medical and technical terms explained as clearly and simply as possible, Medical modelling provides a genuinely useful text to help the broadest possible range of professionals to understand not only the technologies, techniques and methods, but also what is required to apply them in medical treatments. Medical modelling describes steps in the process from acquisition of medical scan data, transfer and translation of data formats, methods of utilising the data and finally using the information to produce physical models using rapid prototyping techniques for use in surgery or prosthetic rehabilitation.

Technologies are fully described, highlighting their key characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

A series of case studies illustrates a broad range of medical applications.

These case studies are taken from the collective experience of the National Centre for Product Design & Development Research, Medical Applications Group and their clinical partners, and have been chosen to reflect the widest possible variety of techniques used.

Future developments in technology and applications in this dynamic and fast-moving field are also considered. This book will appeal to the wide variety of professionals who undertake collaborative research, development and treatment of human physical conditions using advanced computer-aided design and manufacturing techniques and technologies, including medical and clinical engineers and physicists, clinical technologists, rehabilitation engineers, design engineers in medical device design and manufacture, consultant surgeons and specialists in, for example, orthopaedics, orthodontics, and prosthetics.