The Open Medical Informatics Journal




(Discontinued)

ISSN: 1874-4311 ― Volume 13, 2019
LETTER

Workflow of CAD / CAM Scoliosis Brace Adjustment in Preparation Using 3D Printing



Hans-Rudolf Weiss1, *, Nicos Tournavitis2, Xiaofeng Nan3, Maksym Borysov4, Lothar Paul5
1 Orthopedic Rehabilitation Service, Alzeyer Str. 23, D-55457 Gensingen, Germany
2 Scoliosis Best Practice Rehab Services, Thessaloniki, Greece
3 Nan Xiaofeng's Spinal Orthopedic Workshop, Beilin district of Xi'an Shaanxi, China
4 Orttech-plus Rehabilitation Service, Ukraine, Kharkiv
5 GFaI, Volmerstraße 3, 12489 Berlin

Abstract

Background:

High correction bracing is the most effective conservative treatment for patients with scoliosis during growth. Still today braces for the treatment of scoliosis are made by casting patients while computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) is available with all possibilities to standardize pattern specific brace treatment and improve wearing comfort.

Objective:

CAD / CAM brace production mainly relies on carving a polyurethane foam model which is the basis for vacuuming a polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) brace. Purpose of this short communication is to describe the workflow currently used and to outline future requirements with respect to 3D printing technology.

Method:

Description of the steps of virtual brace adjustment as available today are content of this paper as well as an outline of the great potential there is for the future 3D printing technology.

Results:

For 3D printing of scoliosis braces it is necessary to establish easy to use software plug-ins in order to allow adding 3D printing technology to the current workflow of virtual CAD / CAM brace adjustment. Textures and structures can be added to the brace models at certain well defined locations offering the potential of more wearing comfort without losing in-brace correction.

Conclusions:

Advances have to be made in the field of CAD / CAM software tools with respect to design and generation of individually structured brace models based on currently well established and standardized scoliosis brace libraries.

Keywords: Scoliosis, Brace treatment, CAD / CAM, 3D printing, Additive manufacturing, Correction, Comfort, Outcome.


Article Information


Identifiers and Pagination:

Year: 2017
Volume: 11
First Page: 44
Last Page: 51
Publisher Id: TOMINFOJ-11-44
DOI: 10.2174/1874431101711010044

Article History:

Received Date: 13/06/2017
Revision Received Date: 29/08/2017
Acceptance Date: 19/09/2017
Electronic publication date: 24/10/2017
Collection year: 2017

© 2017 Weiss et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


* Address correspondence to this author at the Orthopedic Rehabilitation Service, Alzeyer Str. 23, D-55457, Gensingen, Germany, Tel: ++49 (0)6727894040; E-mail: hr.weiss@skoliose-dr-weiss.com





1. BACKGROUND

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine and trunk, which may lead to significant health problems when left untreated [1Asher MA, Burton DC. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: natural history and long term treatment effects. Scoliosis 2006; 1(1): 2.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1748-7161-1-2] [PMID: 16759428]
]. During growth, such a deformity may progress within a short period of time [1Asher MA, Burton DC. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: natural history and long term treatment effects. Scoliosis 2006; 1(1): 2.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1748-7161-1-2] [PMID: 16759428]
, 2Goldberg CJ, Moore DP, Fogarty EE, Dowling FE. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: natural history and prognosis. Stud Health Technol Inform 2002; 91: 59-63.
[PMID: 15457694]
]. Therefore, according to the current guidelines, conservative treatment with high corrective exercises and high corrective braces are indicated to prevent such a spinal deformity from being progressive [3Weiss HR, Lehnert-Schroth C, Moramarco M, Moramarco K. Schroth Therapy: Advancements in Conservative Scoliosis Treatment 2015; 107-17.]. High correction bracing is the most effective conservative treatment for patients with scoliosis during growth. Many different braces are in the market nowadays, but not all with the best possible outcome [4Weiss HR, Kleban A. Development of CAD/CAM Based Brace Models for the Treatment of Patients with Scoliosis-Classification Based Approach versus Finite Element Modelling. Asian Spine J 2015; 9(5): 661-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.661] [PMID: 26435781]
], which would outweigh the impact of brace treatment in children and adolescent patients during growth. Boston brace treatment in a randomized controlled study has been proven effective with a success rate of 72% [5Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Wright JG, Dobbs MB. Effects of bracing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. N Engl J Med 2013; 369(16): 1512-21.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1307337] [PMID: 24047455]
]. While the Boston brace is more or less symmetric with pads inserted leading to compression effects which might be experienced as being uncomfortable by the patients, more asymmetric braces using the Chêneau standard of pattern specific correction in a prospective controlled study have been shown to be able to improve the outcome with a success rate of 80% Fig. (1) [6Weiss HR, Weiss GM. Brace treatment during pubertal growth spurt in girls with idiopathic scoliosis (IS): A prospective trial comparing two different concepts. Pediatr Rehab 2005; 8(3): 199-206.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13638490400022212] [PMID: 16087554]
]. In a more recent retrospective paper, success rates exceeding 90% have been achieved [7Weiss HR, Werkmann M. Rate of surgery in a sample of patients fulfilling the SRS inclusion criteria treated with a Chêneau brace of actual standard. Stud Health Technol Inform 2012; 176: 407-10.
[PMID: 22744540]
] while the last prospective cohorts using the recent developments of the Chêneau standard (Gensingen Brace®) had success rates of about 90% Figs. (2 and 3) [8Weiss HR, Tournavitis N, Seibel S. Preliminary results of a prospective AIS cohort treated with the Gensingen brace (GBW). Proceedings of the 10th Hellenic Spine Congress Thessaloniki. 2016, October 26th - 29th; , 9Weiss HR, Tournavitis N, Seibel S. A prospective AIS cohort of 40° and more treated with the Gensingen brace (GBW) – Preliminary results. Proceedings of the 10th Hellenic Spine Congress Thessaloniki. 2016, October 26th - 29th; ].

Fig. (1)
Cast based Chêneau brace with nearly full correction of a double major curve pattern. This ‚old style‘ Chêneau brace has been produced in China (with kind permission by Xiaofeng Nan, Xi‘an)


Fig. (2)
Gensingen Brace® treatment for a single curve pattern showing an overcorrection in the x-ray and a slight cosmetic improvement after 6 weeks of brace wearing time. This Gensingen brace has been made in Greece (With kind permission by Nico Tournavitis, SBPRS, Thessaloniki, Athens, Nicosia).


Fig. (3)
Gensingen Brace® treatment for a single curve pattern of 50 degrees showing a good correction in the x-ray and a significant cosmetic improvement after 6 months of brace wearing time. This Gensingen brace has been made in Ukraine (With kind permission Maksym Borysov, Orttech-Plus Rehabilitation Service, Kharkiv).


Still today, braces for the treatment of scoliosis are made by casting patients while computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) are available with all possibilities to standardize pattern specific brace treatment and improve wearing comfort [4Weiss HR, Kleban A. Development of CAD/CAM Based Brace Models for the Treatment of Patients with Scoliosis-Classification Based Approach versus Finite Element Modelling. Asian Spine J 2015; 9(5): 661-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.661] [PMID: 26435781]
]. The Boston Brace® [5Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Wright JG, Dobbs MB. Effects of bracing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. N Engl J Med 2013; 369(16): 1512-21.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1307337] [PMID: 24047455]
] today is the most widely used symmetric brace and the Gensingen Brace® (GBW) [4Weiss HR, Kleban A. Development of CAD/CAM Based Brace Models for the Treatment of Patients with Scoliosis-Classification Based Approach versus Finite Element Modelling. Asian Spine J 2015; 9(5): 661-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.661] [PMID: 26435781]
] is the most widely used asymmetric brace for the treatment of scoliosis. The adjustment of the GBW is based on a classification of different curve patterns and on a library of specific brace models to address the different geometric deviations [4Weiss HR, Kleban A. Development of CAD/CAM Based Brace Models for the Treatment of Patients with Scoliosis-Classification Based Approach versus Finite Element Modelling. Asian Spine J 2015; 9(5): 661-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.661] [PMID: 26435781]
].

2. OBJECTIVE

CAD / CAM brace production mainly relies on carving (milling) of a polyurethane foam block which is the basis for vacuuming a polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) brace model. Purpose of this short communication is to describe the workflow currently used and to outline future requirements with respect to 3D printing technology.

3. METHOD

A workflow description of virtual brace adjustment as available today is the content of this paper as well as an outline of the great potential of 3D printing technology.

The basis for best possible brace adjustment is the availability of the patient’s record including sex, age, maturity, angle of curvature (Cobb angle), and the diagnosis. Additionally, an evaluation of the geometric entity of the deformation is required in order to find the appropriate curve pattern, facilitated by means of the patient’s pictures from all four sides and of the x-ray.

In principle, the brace can be adjusted virtually by using the hand measurements of the patients’ trunk, but a 3D-scan of the patient’s body is preferred. The virtual adjustment process described within this paper is based on the Final Surface® software and on the customized ScoliCAD® plug-ins developed for the adjustment of the GBW.

  1. The patient’s scan has to be adjusted in a standard coordinate system. This is necessary to derive parametric measurements from the 3D-scan for a raw adjustment of the brace (Fig. 4)
  2. The patient’s scan has to be scaled, which is a semi-automated process using the ScoliCAD® Scaler. However this process has to be controlled and manually fine-adjusted in some cases Fig. (5).
  3. The appropriate brace model must be chosen from the library and then inserted into the scene Fig. (6)
  4. The brace model is then adjusted using the ScoliCAD® Adjuster and the fine adjustment is made individually by hand Fig. (7).
    Fig. (4)
    The patient’s scan has to be adjusted in a standard coordinate system.


    Fig. (5)
    The patient’s scan has to be scaled, which is a semi-automated process using the ScoliCAD® Scaler.


    Fig. (6)
    The appropriate brace model must be chosen from the library and then inserted into the scene.


    Fig. (7)
    The brace model is then adjusted using the ScoliCAD® Adjuster and the fine adjustment is made individually by hand.


  5. With the help of the ScoliCAD® Brace Designer the correction in frontal plane (shift) and sagittal plane is individually increased for each patient Figs. (8 and 9)
    Fig. (8)
    With the help of the ScoliCAD® Brace Designer the correction in frontal plane (shift) and sagittal plane is individually increased for each patient.


    Fig. (9)
    Before releasing the STL-file the final result of virtual brace adjustment needs to be reviewed from all sides.


Currently the resulting brace model represents a negative mould of the brace to be manufactured. It can be exported as an STL-file to be carved at any milling service. The brace form is then milled from a PU foam block. This form in turn is used for vacuuming (thermoforming) the final brace, which can be adjusted to the patient’s body after being cut from the foam model and some adequate finishing steps. (The used PU foam body remains as waste and/or is subject to recycling.)

4. RESULTS

The results achieved with this technology seem to be better than the results published for cast based braces made completely by hand. For handmade Boston and Chêneau style braces, success rates were between 70 and 80% [5Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Wright JG, Dobbs MB. Effects of bracing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. N Engl J Med 2013; 369(16): 1512-21.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1307337] [PMID: 24047455]
, 6Weiss HR, Weiss GM. Brace treatment during pubertal growth spurt in girls with idiopathic scoliosis (IS): A prospective trial comparing two different concepts. Pediatr Rehab 2005; 8(3): 199-206.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13638490400022212] [PMID: 16087554]
], while the success rates with comparable samples fabricated in the described above standardized technology were about 90% [4Weiss HR, Kleban A. Development of CAD/CAM Based Brace Models for the Treatment of Patients with Scoliosis-Classification Based Approach versus Finite Element Modelling. Asian Spine J 2015; 9(5): 661-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.661] [PMID: 26435781]
, 7Weiss HR, Werkmann M. Rate of surgery in a sample of patients fulfilling the SRS inclusion criteria treated with a Chêneau brace of actual standard. Stud Health Technol Inform 2012; 176: 407-10.
[PMID: 22744540]
-9Weiss HR, Tournavitis N, Seibel S. A prospective AIS cohort of 40° and more treated with the Gensingen brace (GBW) – Preliminary results. Proceedings of the 10th Hellenic Spine Congress Thessaloniki. 2016, October 26th - 29th; ]. In order to improve the success rate further, brace wearing time besides in-brace correction seems to be of vast importance [10Landauer F, Wimmer C, Behensky H. Estimating the final outcome of brace treatment for idiopathic thoracic scoliosis at 6-month follow-up. Pediatr Rehabil 2003; 6(3-4): 201-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13638490310001636817] [PMID: 14713586]
]. Therefore, it seems necessary to improve wearing comfort in order to achieve a better compliance of the patients.

3D printing [11Available at: http: //www.3ddayin.net/news/guonadongtai/21733.html ] would offer the opportunity of making braces lighter and more comfortable by using alternative materials, by adapting wall thicknesses and individually structured designs including local textures, pierced or reinforced regions of the brace. The integration of such well-defined local textures and structures offers the potential of increased wearing comfort, particularly determined by lighter brace weight, more adjustable or flexible zones and better aeration without losing in-brace correction. (As a technological and environmental side effect, wasting / recycling large amounts of PU foam material would become unnecessary with 3D printing.)

However, the current software as of yet, does provide neither the spectrum of functions and tools nor the usability needed to create this kind of improved brace models. In order to add 3D printing technologies to the current toolbox of scoliosis brace manufacturing Fig. (10), it is necessary to develop and establish easy-to-use software tools in the already existent workflow of virtual CAD / CAM brace adjustment.

Fig. (10)
Chinese patient with a GBW as printed in China and adjusted by Xiaofeng Nan, Xi’an. This brace has been printed using SLS technology (selective laser sintering), which is slowly and costly but offers a wider range of materials to be printed. First braces currently are made on the basis of FFF (fused filament fabrication) which currently is cheaper and faster.


CONCLUSION

It was concluded that advances have to be made in the field of CAD / CAM software with respect to

(1) the derivation of consistent directly printable (positive) brace models from both individual patient 3D-scans and established standardized scoliosis brace form libraries and

(2) easy-to-use tools for quick, individual redesign of certain brace regions targeting weight reduction, local stiffening, adaptivity and aeration.

With the optimal therapeutic form already defined, the technologically unlimited design options of 3D printing technologies offer huge potential for significant improvements in wearing comfort and patient compliance and finally the outcome of brace treatment for patients with spinal deformities.

Future options of 3D printing technology will go far beyond what is possible today. 3D printing is not just another way of fabricating standardized braces, but the key for the development of new brace generations connecting high correction success with improved wearing comfort features and higher patient compliance.

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE

Not applicable.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL RIGHTS

No Animals/Humans were used for studies that are base of this research.

CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION

Not applicable.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

HRW declares a possible conflict of interest as he is the developer of the Gensingen Brace library and of the plug-ins used for brace adjustment. All other authors declare to have no conflict of interest.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

HRW provided the first draft, the coauthors developed the final paper together with the first author and provided some of the pictures illustrating the text. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

REFERENCES

[1] Asher MA, Burton DC. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: natural history and long term treatment effects. Scoliosis 2006; 1(1): 2.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1748-7161-1-2] [PMID: 16759428]
[2] Goldberg CJ, Moore DP, Fogarty EE, Dowling FE. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: natural history and prognosis. Stud Health Technol Inform 2002; 91: 59-63.
[PMID: 15457694]
[3] Weiss HR, Lehnert-Schroth C, Moramarco M, Moramarco K. Schroth Therapy: Advancements in Conservative Scoliosis Treatment 2015; 107-17.
[4] Weiss HR, Kleban A. Development of CAD/CAM Based Brace Models for the Treatment of Patients with Scoliosis-Classification Based Approach versus Finite Element Modelling. Asian Spine J 2015; 9(5): 661-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.661] [PMID: 26435781]
[5] Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Wright JG, Dobbs MB. Effects of bracing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. N Engl J Med 2013; 369(16): 1512-21.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1307337] [PMID: 24047455]
[6] Weiss HR, Weiss GM. Brace treatment during pubertal growth spurt in girls with idiopathic scoliosis (IS): A prospective trial comparing two different concepts. Pediatr Rehab 2005; 8(3): 199-206.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13638490400022212] [PMID: 16087554]
[7] Weiss HR, Werkmann M. Rate of surgery in a sample of patients fulfilling the SRS inclusion criteria treated with a Chêneau brace of actual standard. Stud Health Technol Inform 2012; 176: 407-10.
[PMID: 22744540]
[8] Weiss HR, Tournavitis N, Seibel S. Preliminary results of a prospective AIS cohort treated with the Gensingen brace (GBW). Proceedings of the 10th Hellenic Spine Congress Thessaloniki. 2016, October 26th - 29th;
[9] Weiss HR, Tournavitis N, Seibel S. A prospective AIS cohort of 40° and more treated with the Gensingen brace (GBW) – Preliminary results. Proceedings of the 10th Hellenic Spine Congress Thessaloniki. 2016, October 26th - 29th;
[10] Landauer F, Wimmer C, Behensky H. Estimating the final outcome of brace treatment for idiopathic thoracic scoliosis at 6-month follow-up. Pediatr Rehabil 2003; 6(3-4): 201-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13638490310001636817] [PMID: 14713586]
[11] Available at: http: //www.3ddayin.net/news/guonadongtai/21733.html
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