A hand-held 3D scanner can produce accurate, repeatable, reproducible limb scans

Hand-held digital 3D scanners are increasingly used in both clinical and research settings within the field of prosthetics and orthotics. These scanners help accurately capture the shapes of body parts or their molds, aiding in the design and fabrication of custom-fit devices. This technology can also support research into improving device fit and function through detailed shape analysis and testing. A new study evaluated the performance of a specific scanner, the EINScan Pro 2X Plus 3D Scanner with High Definition Prime Pack. Specifically, the study looked at whether the scanner could produce accurate, repeatable, and reproducible results when scanning lower limb models in several locations with multiple operators. No other available 3D scanner assessments have tested these measures across multiple sites. 

The study used four fabricated limb models scanned by multiple operators working in different locations to test the scanner's capabilities. The results were accurate across all locations, with variances falling within acceptable clinical standards. Since the scanner can produce accurate, reliable data when used by various people in various locations, it has potential to be used in multi-center clinical trials. 

There is a key limitation to this study however: the limb models used are likely to have less variation than performing a similar scan on a live limb. This is an area for future study. As well, future studies could look into developing standard ways to measure amputated limb scans. This could help improve how 3D scanners are used to make prostheses, and provide more reliable data for research. 

This study was conducted by Stefania Fatone, PhD, Professor, and colleagues from various institutions. This study is one outcome of a project funded by the Department of Defense. Dr. Fatone is co-principal investigator on this project along with Steven Gard, PhD, at Northwestern University.