CAD CAM

CAD CAM

Charles H. Pritham

4/20/2006

Enclosed below are the responses I received from my last post regarding CAD
CAM, AFO, and spinals. Apparently Producing AFO models with CAD CAM does not
rouse any strong opinions pro or con. Sort of makes you wonder it was worth
the effort and expense to develop the abilty.

Charles H. Pritham, CPO

 

 

Note: The following post is from an Israeli gentleman, so please excuse the
English.

 

            I am looking for the CAD CAM solution in orthotics for the last
5 years. OWW were sure they will have a solution back in 2000 but there is
non until today.

The problem is to get both the plantar part of the foot and at the same time
a full cover of the adult leg, all that in a fracture of time.

There are three methods that are used in the different systems European or
American.

Scanning with a bean.

Volume and location - tracing

Photography ( OWW T-Ring)

            OWW told me there is some progress that will be presented in the
O&P convention in Leipzig Germany 10-13 May 2006 - I will be there.

            OWW have insisted that there is no solution applicable in the
world today - with the understanding of military applications in the
detection of movement, cartography and so on , I think that some were in
this hi-tech world there mast be an applicable solution that the O&P field
will benefit from. I am looking for this kind of hi-tech company out here in
Israel - it is taking a long time that I don't really have - after all I
need to run my orthotics facility at the same time.

            Conclusion - there is no solution that is friendly in all
levels.

            That is how I see it to be today.

****

 

I have used and ran a lab for about a year that used CAD for spinals and
prosthetics. Some of my experiences were that the CAD system had its
problems:1. Many times the calibrations were inaccurate, requiring downtime
to recalibrate. 2. Running the machine became labor intensive requiring 2-3
technicians to pull the plastic and trim and finish the spinals. It also
required me, a practitioner to run and monitor the machine during the
carving. 3. When the machine was being used for spinals, prosthetics
production became delayed, and vice versa. 4. After a few months, be
developed a library of molds, that we used over again, negating the need for
the CAD to do the spianls. We also did scoliosis braces, again requiring a
practitioner to do the pads and mark the trimlines. My personal feeling is
that the machine became a source of problems- people began fighting to use
the machine, causing tension. Again, personally- I feel that the CFAB spinal
labs do a better cleaner job an

****

 

don't know if this is what you are looking for but here goes!!:::
I cast all of my scoli patients then digitize the cast into Tracer, a few
minutes to modify and correct the model
then I e-mail the file to Boston brace for an unfinished model.
When I recieve the model I cut it like I like it and fit the patient.
This works excellant for me, and the patients and Docs are well pleased.
To me it is better and less time consuming then off the shelf modular system
fro Boston.
Better fitting and better results!