New DICOM Importer Brings CT Data Into Geomagic Software

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C - A DICOM Importer that enables users to bring data from Cone Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT) systems into Geomagic software is now available as a technology preview on Geomagic Labs.

Geomagic Labs is a community website that provides early access to new technologies, innovation and product concepts before they appear in commercial Geomagic software.

DICOM (Digital Imaging Communication in Medicine) data is the format generated by CBCT scanners that enable users to capture both external and internal shapes of an object without invasive or destructive methods.

In the medical and dental fields, practitioners use CBCT scanners to view anatomically accurate and precise images, complete with bones, nerves and tissues. The unique capabilities of CBCT scanning systems have also made them popular for capturing data from a wide range of industrial parts and objects. CBCT systems work with any surface, shape, color or material and are not affected by dark, reflective or transparent surfaces or shaded zones that cause difficulty with other 3D scanning methods.

The new importer converts DICOM data into an STL polygon mesh that can be processed directly by Geomagic Studio or Geomagic Qualify.

Improved diagnosis, planning and treatment

In the dental world, Geomagic Studio is used to create 3D models of teeth, maxillary and mandibular arches and jaw structure for precise design of crowns, bridges, custom implant abutments, and orthodontic appliances. The 3D models derived from DICOM data allow complete visualization of the oral and maxillofacial structure to enable better planning, surgery and post-surgical treatment.

Geomagic Qualify allows dental practitioners to make precise measurements on any plane within the 3D model. The 3D inspection software can be used to compare restorations to the original CAD model to analyze differences and determine quality, measure bone volume precisely, and assess the quality of hard tissue.

Other medical applications of Geomagic Studio and Qualify include customized design and inspection of prosthetic devices, analyses of surgical and post-surgical results, treatment visualization, and rapid prototyping or manufacturing of customized medical appliances for treating childhood deformities.

Widespread industrial applications

In the industrial world, accurate 3D models can be created by Geomagic Studio from DICOM data for applications such as rapid prototyping, engineering analysis, generating parametric models for direct import into CAD systems, digital archiving, and customized design.

Within Geomagic Qualify, 3D models derived from DICOM data can be compared to CAD models or other CT models to display differences and commonalities in measurements, densities, voids and other characteristics. This process ensures product quality and speeds inspection.

“The DICOM Importer provides another pathway to bring complex physical objects into the powerful digital world made possible by Geomagic Studio and Geomagic Qualify,” says Karl Matthews, director of product management for Geomagic. “It’s all about providing users with the best options for transforming physical objects into accurate digital models to speed product development and ensure quality.”