Active Shape Models for Customised Prosthesis Design

Images and computer graphics play an increasingly important role in the design and manufacture of medical prostheses and implants. Images provide guidance on optimal design in terms of location, preparation and the overall shape and configuration of subcomponents. Direct manipulation of a graphical representation provides a natural design environment. RaPiD is a CAD-like knowledge-based assistant for designing a dental prosthesis known as a removable partial denture (RPD). The expertise embedded in RaPiD encourages optimal subcomponent configuration, but currently supports only minor customisation. This paper describes how oral images and Active Shape Models (ASMs) are being used to address this limitation.