FWD: RE O&P World News ISPO-CAD CAM

FWD: RE O&P World News ISPO-CAD CAM

Dear Colleagues,

I am forwarding this post. It refers to numerous web sites that look very
interesting.

Once again, the predominant issue in my mind, is how to capture the shape
appropriately and accurately in different situations and then to have it
carved accurately. Systems allowing for different types of data acquisition
are the ones that may be the most useful for a broad range of
prosthetic/orthotic applications.
Mark Benveniste CP
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Forwarded Message:
From: <Email Address Redacted> (Bill Contoyannis)

Hi Mark,

I'll intro myself,
I'm Bill Contoyannis, a Rehab engineer with REHAB Tech Monash University
Australia,
(There's a bunch of info on our site
<URL Redacted> about us! -We've also done a bit
with CADCAM)

I'll leave it to you to decide what gets circulated to the listserver as
the originator of the thread. Our prosthetist has circulated both of
your emails to me so I'll add some stuff to your discussions and
queries.
I was at the ISPO (Aust) meeting where David presented and I believe the
article (which I read at the time was (obviously) all too brief for
what's a big topic!)

David may wish to comment on his presentation, but I do believe his
general thrust was one of the learning and development in the area has
only just begun. I believed if you have judged the technlogy as tried
it didn't like it, don't need to ever know about it again you are
likely to be proffesionally short changing yourself very badly.

I don't want to get into details, particularly clinical ones, as that is
not my area, but it seems to be that the application of the technology
is being wished for to solve clinical problems - it will help, not
solve!
(The parallels are numerous - MRI doesn't cure cancer, but it minimises
the hack work the surgeon does in locating it!)

(I'll let the clinicians argue the clinical merits, here's some
technical ones!)

One huge advantage of CADCAM (such as in complex calculations for such
clinical issues as Scoliosis - as David presented with one of the CAD
tools), is that we all work in a physical medium, therfore we need to
produce something - ie the CAM.
This has been a sideline to the clinical focus, yet it may be the area
of most importance!?
(I, as an engineer, of course am enormously biased.)

..but consider this....

Imagine if you have just finished dynamically aligning a TTsocket. The
lient and you are happy, so you return to your desk, hot a button on
your PC called Print Prosthesis and the following occurs..
 The socket (that you just tried), the alignment (that you just decided
upon) and the mirror image of the client's other limb are merged
(morphed) together. A consideration is included for the overall strength
required given the client's weight. This is then printed out. (3d
prtotyping was described for P&O by Josh Roloc -NWU REPOC).

Go to the printer, pick up the leg, give it to the client.
(This is how I get my spectacles!)
Client not quite sure!?!?, Then go back to the PC, dot is and cross
ts and then hit print again...
(I'm sure we all do this for those Important letters).

...Guess what?? Cabn't be done ?? Wanna bet???
...we are doing this already, albeit in a trial stage...(but proven
process)
<URL Redacted>

(The analogies are very similar with writing letters or documents for
communication. The computer allows for fast editing, storage, and quick
transfer but doesn't make us a better writer of english, even though
some minor quality issues such as spelling may be addressed. BUT we
can access laser printers, color printers, print services and create
products which we're not even contemplated 20 years ago.)

What haven't we contemplated in P&O?????
One example;
 By creating a merged model and in turn combining it with a socket and
a foot, we can make a cast which when moulded will include all of the
required components made in one go!!! Cheaply and quickly as a spare
limb, shower leg, developing countries leg...
(see bottom of page
<URL Redacted>)

As a result of some of this work we are collaborating together with
others to establish some resources etc. that can be shared.
You can find these at
http://rehabtech.eng.monash.edu.au/cadcam/index.htm which is the general
index page to most of the stuff I've referred to!

Also..who will be doing this stuff??, Not engineers, but prosthetists!
The engineer is the bit player in the equation. The prosthetist will be
developing thsi technologu to continue to do what he/she does
best...optimise and improve the service that they can provide to their
clients.. (eh David?)

Also there are also some more things not yet contemplated,
UNFORTUNATELY, they are not CONTEMPLATABLE , if you do not start from
the basis of CAD and CAM.

Happy to speak more about it!!! (David may wish to add)
I'll let you decide what you bombard the OandP-L with!
See ya!

Bill