Comparative Study of Segmentation Programs on the Human Cranio-Maxillary Structure

Egon Mamboleo* and Sam Mukdadi, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505

Field (Broad Category): Medical Sciences (Physical Sciences & Engineering) 

Student’s Major: Mechanical Engineering 

Background: MARPE (Micro-Implant-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expander) is an orthodontic device designed to help older patients who are in need of Ortho-Skeletal assistance who want to attain proper teeth alignment without the need of invasive surgery. Before the device is implanted on a patient a 3D model is generated through segmentation and stress analysis is performed on that model. Methods: 5 3D model of 5 different patient’s Cranium will be created by utilizing computer software such as ITK Snap, 3D Slicer, and Invalids through the process of Segmentation. A survey will be made to rate each of the 15 models with different parameters. Than an Ease of use study will be made, each person surveyed will create a model on each program and rate the ease of use and model quality. Results: The results of this process will be a comparative study of what program has the better ease of use and qualitatively creates the best model based on the survey given in the study. Conclusion: This study is meant to find the most suitable, cost effective, and flexible program to preform segmentations. The models created from this study could be 3D printed and studied or implemented into a structural simulation software. 

Funding: Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)/National Science Foundation 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU Work Study (not associated with RAP) Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)