An image‐based approach for designing and manufacturing craniofacial scaffolds

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 67 - 71
• Main Authors: Hollister, Scott J., Levy, Richard A., Chu, Tien‐Min, Halloran, John W., Feinberg, Stephen E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copenhagen Munksgaard International Publishers 01.02.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatible Materials; Biological and medical sciences; biomaterial scaffolds; Biotechnology; Computer-Aided Design; craniofacial reconstruction; Dentistry; Facial Bones - surgery; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mandible - surgery; Mandibular Condyle - surgery; Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Medical sciences; Orbit - surgery; Prostheses and Implants; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures; Skull - surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Swine; Swine, Miniature; tissue engineering; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Human; Floor of the orbit; Corrective surgery; Mandible; Support; Stomatology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Epoxy resin; Plastic surgery; Anatomical reconstruction; Treatment; Medical imagery; Biomaterial; Craniofacial; Tridimensional image; Bone defect; Manufacturing; Technique; Face; Computer aided design; Biomedical engineering
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-0020.2000.290115.x

. Bone tissue engineering (BTE), which combines biomaterial scaffolds with biologically active factors, holds tremendous promise for reconstructing craniofacial defects. A significant challenge in craniofacial reconstructive BTE applications is the complex patient‐specific geometry that must be reconstructed. In this paper, we present an image‐based approach for designing and manufacturing patient‐specific craniofacial biomaterial scaffolds directly from CT or MRI data. In this approach, voxel density distribution is used to define scaffold topology. The scaffold design topology is created using image processing techniques. This voxel density distribution is then converted to data that can be used to drive a Solid Free‐Form Fabrication machine to either directly build the scaffold or build a mold for the scaffold. Several preliminary applications for craniofacial surgery, including a mandibular condyle scaffold, an orbital floor scaffold, and a general mandibular defect scaffold, are illustrated. Finally, we show applications to in vivo models.