V.G. Duffy (Ed.): DHM/HCII 2013, Part II, LNCS 8026, pp. 324–332, 2013.
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Automatic 3D Reconstruction of Transfemoral Residual
Limb from MRI Images
Giorgio Colombo
1
, Giancarlo Facoetti
2
, Caterina Rizzi
2,3
,
Andrea Vitali
3
, and Alessandro Zanello
4
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic of Milan, Milan, Italy
giorgio.colombo@polimi.it
2
COGES Centre, University of Bergamo (BG), Dalmine, Italy
giancarlo.facoetti@unibg.it
3
Department of Engineering, University of Bergamo (BG), Dalmine, Italy
{caterina.rizzi,andrea.vitali1}@unibg.it
4
Humanitas Gavazzeni Clinic, Bergamo, Italy
alessandro.zanello@gavazzeni.it
Abstract. This work is part a new design platform for lower limb prosthesis
centered on the patient’s digital model and based on the integrated use of virtual
prototyping tools. In particular, 3D detailed model of residual limb, that
includes not only the external skin but also bones and soft tissues, is needed for
socket design and finite element analysis to study the socket-residual limb
interaction. In this paper, we present a procedure for 3D automatic
reconstruction of the residual starting from MRI images. The output is a 3D
geometric model, in a neutral format (IGES), which permits CAD information
exchange among the modules composing the design platform. The
reconstruction procedure consists of three different phases: image pre-
processing, voxel segmentation, 3D models generation. Results have been
considered promising and future activities to enhance the algorithm
performance have been planned.
Keywords: Lower limb prosthesis design, MRI, 3D automatic reconstruction,
segmentation.
1 Introduction
Nowadays, lower limb prosthesis design is carried out mostly following a hand-made
procedure, and the final result heavily depends on the prosthetics’ skills. In this
context, we propose a new design platform for lower limb prosthesis design [1] whose
main goal is to replace the traditional process with a virtual environment. The
platform exploits several ICT tools such as 3D CAD and FEA (Finite Element
Analysis) systems as well as biomechanical human models.
The platform comprehends two environments: the Prosthesis Modelling Lab and
the Virtual Testing Lab. The first one allows the configuration and generation of the
3D prosthesis model, while the second permits to virtually set up the artificial leg and
simulate patient’s postures and gait.