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MedCAD Module

 

MedCAD is designed to provide a bridge between medical imaging (CT, MRI,...) and CAD design. The MedCAD Module creates a two-way interface from the imaging system to the CAD system and vice versa.

 

MedCAD transfers your scanner images to CAD objects

 

Based on the CT images, CAD objects can be created in your Mimics project. This can be done in two different ways. You can

Pelvis model - Generate a polyline set from the segmentation mask

1. Fit CAD objects on polylines


Based on the segmentation mask, Mimics automatically generates the contours (polylines) of the mask. The MedCAD Module allows the user to grow polylines into a subset of polylines based on a specified tolerance. The subset of polylines can be used to fit different CAD objects to the anatomical geometry.

Grow a polyline subset with the MedCAD Module

2. Create CAD objects interactively or parametrically

 

CAD objects can be drawn interactively on the 2D and 3D views. You can also create the objects parametrically by specifying the different parameters for the object (e.g. the location of the center point and the radius of a circle). The objects can also be adjusted interactively with the mouse after they are created.

 

Fit a freeform surface to the polyline subset

Possible CAD objects that can be created are:

  • b-spline curves and surfaces 
  • point, line, circle, plane, sphere, cylinder

 

All of these entities can be exported as IGES files. The files are directly usable for the design of custom made prostheses in any CAD system. Another typical application is the use of the MedCAD Module for statistical analyses (e.g. it is possible to do measurements on a number of different femurs and use these measurements for the design of a set of standardised implants).

 

Easy Design Verification


To verify the CAD implant design, Mimics imports the design as an STL file. The design is visualised in 2D sections together with the actual images, or in 3D shaded representations, with the anatomical data in a transparent mode. With this method, it is possible to bridge between the images and the CAD system in a few minutes time.

 

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