Application of Rapid Prototyping for Development of Custom- Made Orthopedics Prostheses: An Investigative Study

Recently, as the result of development in modern imaging, computerized threedimensional data processing and advanced engineering techniques, a prosthesis that matchthe skeletal anatomy can be accurately designed using computer aided design (CAD)where the physical model of prosthesis or skull replica can be produced through rapidprototyping (RP), rapid tooling (RT), and computer aided manufacturing (CAM)technology. This paper aims to describe CAD, CAM, RP systems and technologies fordesign and fabrication of custom-made hip prostheses. A novel methodology based on RPtechnology is applied to design and manufacture a custom-made hip prostheses. Resultsshow that the RP models provide an accurate and useful tool for preoperative, surgicalsimulation and fabrication of such prostheses. Concerning the disadvantages such as timeand cost for the hip prostheses design and need for surgical robot to perform the boneresection and preparing proper femoral canal, RP technologies fabricate the custom-madeprostheses quickly, accurately and economically.