METHOD FOR PRODUCING CUSTOM FITTED MEDICAL DEVICES

摘要

An improved method for producing a medical device, such as a prosthetic or orthotic structure is disclosed which makes the procedure more widely available at less cost. The method involves making a model (56) of the body part for which a medical structure is to be manufactured using a conformable fabric impregnated with a settable resin. The model (56) may be prepared (20) by a physician or a prosthetist who has no direct access to an expensive digitizing scanner. The model (56) is removed (24) from the patient's body part and shipped to a scanning facility (12) where a digitizing scanner (50) is used to produce (26) a digitized image (60) of the model (56). The digitized image (60) is shrunk to compensate for the thickness of the model (56) and the digitized data file is preferably sent back to the physician or prosthetist who manipulates (28) the digitized image (60) using a customized software program to produce (28) a modified data file. The modified data file is sent to the scanning facility (12) where the modified data file is converted (34) into control code for a machine which produces (38) a mold used in the manufacture of the medical device. The mold may be manufactured at the scanning facility (12) or the modified data file may be uploaded to the manufacturing facility (14) which may manufacture the mold as well as the medical device. The method is also adapted for use in producing many other medical or anthropometric devices which requires a comfortable precision fit to the human body. The advantage is making this valuable medical service more widely available at reduced cost, and more efficiently utilizing expensive equipment to reduce the unit cost of medical and anthropometric devices.