Manchester Hospital trials iReal for facial reconstruction and prosthetics

Modern technology for 3D scanning and printing in both plastics and metal manufacturing has developed to such a high standard, that medical prosthetics for maxilo-facial medicine can now be produced with very realistic levels of detail. What’s more, with systems such as the iReal 2S, scanning can be done quickly, safely and accurately. The oral and maxillofacial surgeons at North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) have been putting the latest facial scanner from The 3D Measurement Company (T3DMC) through its paces.

Traditionally, the creation of facial prosthetics for trauma patients involved taking an impression of the patient’s face, a procedure which could take up to an hour. The patient has to lie back very still until the impression sets, after which a gypsum stone solution is poured into the mould. Once this hardens, the facial prosthesis will be built around it. The process of taking an impression is not always reliable and can be extremely uncomfortable for some patients, especially for burns and severe trauma patients.

“In the last few years we have tried to move from traditional methods of mould making to using 3D scanners, which has enabled this process to become quicker, cleaner and more convenient for the patient, explained Oliver Burley – Reconstructive Scientist and Lab Manager at North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH). “The facial scanning technology we had access to in the past was suitable for some applications – such as burn splint manufacture – however the level of detail captured left a lot to be desired. Their ability to capture the intricate detail of patient’s face was not as precise as we’d want it to be. A high level of accuracy is essential for creating maxillofacial devices and facial prostheses that are aesthetically pleasing, fit well, and blend seamlessly with the patient’s own features.”

Investing in in-house 3D scanning

When trialling the iReal 2S 3D face scanner from T3DMC, the team at NMGH found that the scanner was capturing detailed features such as eyebrows, skin folds, wrinkles and eye position, alongside the pigments and colours for each of them.

Designed for non-industrial applications, the iReal 2S 3D scanner accurately captures details such as hair, skin texture and eyes. What’s more, it does all this without irritating the skin, being safe for patients’ eyes, and it is even suitable for patients’ suffering from epilepsy.

The right tool for the job – The portable iReal 3D  scanner

High definition 3D scanning data

Indeed, as one of the most affordable body scanners on the market, the iReal 2S 3D scanner can scan in high definition and in colour without reference markers or dots. The iReal’s ability to capture data at 550,000 measurements per second guarantees a quick and smooth scanning experience. Furthermore the built in HD camera directly captures high resolution full colour images of the scanned object, overlaying them onto the 3D mesh structure to give realistic colour representation of the object.  All this is complemented by a visual guidance system which ensures ease of use for non-technical users.

As an added benefit, the data captured with the iReal can later be used for 3D printing and other additive manufacturing techniques to quickly create a prototype for prosthetics.