CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Problem Statement and motivation

The 3D reconstruction of human organ based on medical images

segmentation is a technique that allows the doctors to study the
anatomy and the functions of the organs in living things. It is an
important task in many clinical applications as it will influence the
outcome results of the analysis. Furthermore, the medical-based
segmentation allows specialists to detect the location of the disease
and enable the doctor to diagnose quickly on the patients’ situation. In
addition, segmentations also had helped to ease the studies on
anatomy of living things, allowing all medical students to understand
better on living things’ complexity. However, some parts of the
anatomy of the bodies can be hard to be seen through the image itself
and often the specialist will need to detect it manually using the
manual segmentation.
In Malaysia medical student had a hard time practicing on detection
region of the organs infected from the disease by studying the 2D
images. Visualization on the medical images is difficult for fresh
medical students who do not have the experience on understanding
the medical images and will need the guidance from the lecturer.
However, even with the advice, some students may not be able to
visualize the images, and many of them may not be able to sketch out
the images in 3D volumetric shape. It was challenging to understand
the anatomy of the organs only by using the textbook or 2D atlases.
Moreover, students need to virtually construct the structures in their
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mind which is very inefficient to them (Kong et al. 2016).
Additionally, such a task is nearly impossible for all fresh medical
students who are not experienced to do so or cannot do so. It will be
time-consuming to study anatomy from a textbook and to map out the
anatomy structure of the organs manually based on the 2D images.
Moreover, other parts of the body anatomy like the knee joints have
the complexity of visualization on the ligaments; under the medical
images, it is still likely impossible to see the ligament parts.
Even though some 3D organs are modelled were used for learning
purpose, but it still lacks 3D anatomical structures based on the
original medical images, especially in Malaysia. Most of the models
are created based on the book, pictures, or atlases. The problem with
these models was the accuracy, whether it is similar to the actual
organs with diseases.
Other problem is the performance of an inexperienced doctors on the
surgery practice. New doctors had a hard time performing well in
their surgery practice, especially when it comes to diagnosing the
disease of the patients by referring to the images. The procedure such
as examine the condition of the patient, then followed by diagnosing
the disease; once done, they will need to make a right decision on
whether if the patients need to perform a surgery. Although they may
have diagnosed the disease correctly the first time, there is a high
chance risk of mistakes. Some may not have been able to examine or
visualize appropriately due to the position of the diseases in the
images which may not be clear and easy to be detected. In fact, action,
determination, and precision of the surgeons are the keys when it
comes to saving the lives of the others.
Therefore, our purpose is to generate a 3D reconstruction and
segmentation of human knee joints based on actual medical images to
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help a medical student to learn more effectively, especially in
Malaysia. Furthermore, in a distant future, we can enhance our work
to support (second opinion) the doctors to improve disease diagnosis
results, especially for the new doctors.

1.2 Project Scope

This project will develop a new module with different segmentation

technique and will be implemented into the 3D slicer workbench to
give improvements on the 3D views after the segmentation process
for improvements on education purpose. This new module allows the
3D slicer user to do auto-segmentation so that to save time on pre-
processing the medical images into a 3D model. Moreover, the auto-
segmentation module is also an attempt to give a better accuracy of
the views on the anatomy of the knee joints, which is the current
project data that will be used.

Additionally, in this project scope the Visual studio 2017 software will
be suggested for the development of the module and implementation
as well. The visual studio 2017 is suggested as such that it is needed
to build a new module that is not found in the current workbench.
Moreover, the software itself allows any plugins which able to
improve the functionality with different level. In visual studio, many
built-in tools have been also provided such as the designer for GUI
application build, web designs, class designs, database schema
designer and many more. Besides that, the Visual Studio is an error-
sensitive code editor which then be easier to prevent any of the errors,

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 misused of the operators or finding redundancy of the class relations
and functionality.

1.3Project objective

1) To develop 3D reconstructed anatomy structure based on real medical

images of the patient.
➢ The reconstruction of the organs with every detail of the
anatomy structure of organs will be able to help medical
students to have better understanding on the condition of
the parts of an organ from a patient.

2) To allow students to study the 3D anatomy structure from actual

medical images
➢Allows user, especially medical students to ease their
studies on the anatomy by using a 3D view of the
medical image’s segmentation.
➢Allows to improve the inexperienced doctors’ or
surgeons’ judgment on disease detection.

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1.4 Impact, significance, and contribution

The significance of this project is that using auto segmentation

modules to create a 3D model of the knee joints. The anatomy of the
knee joints is not easily to be seen or visible enough under the
medical imaging screening although semi-auto segmentation can be
done as well. But even with the semi-auto segmentation, human errors
can also occur during the segmentation process, giving a low accuracy
of the image information. Moreover, the workbench in this project has
not been implemented with the auto segmentation modules as it is.
Besides that, this project will eventually give bigger impacts on
medical education as it will provide the need of help to them on
giving the exact description of the anatomy and perhaps letting the
medical students to understand and learn more of the auto
segmentation system. This is
because the auto segmentation module is a technique that can clearly
give a better result of the 3D models with greater accuracy as well as
the precision. This technique will then be used as learning purpose for
medical educations.
They were solving medical imaging studies problem by helping to
reduce making any mistakes after graduating as a medical specialist,
as it can give negative impacts towards their career and the company
that they are working. Furthermore, lecturers of the medical field
have now begun to take in on teaching the fundamentals of the
programs regarding on the segmentation process which will be a
game-changer as the medical students will then understand better on
the functionality.

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 1.5 Background information

Manual segmentation is the first module which was used

frequently by the doctors and specialists where they will need to
make labels and segments the medical images by hand, only by
referring to a spectrograms or waveforms. To this date, medical
doctors, specialists and even the medical students are still using
manual segmentation as a practice as it is said that the manual
segmentation method is the most accurate because of the difficulties
to create and align the structures of the images accurately. Moreover,
it will be much more difficult for the experts to do segmentations if
the quality of the related image is too low (Despotovic et al, 2014).

Even with a well-trained expert, the fact about the manual

segmentation is that it is a very time- consuming task such that an
expert, or operator, will need to go through every slices of the
medical images to do segmentation process and extracting out the
contour of the structures which the operators target to segment it.
Additionally, it is very likely to be prone on making a lot of mistakes
or errors and most of the time the results will be impossible to
reproduce. Therefore, experts are now currently practicing on the
semi-auto segmentation technique and auto segmentation technique.

Auto segmentation is the latest generation of segmentation algorithm

development in which this technique have been clustered with 3
generations of algorithms along with the multi-atlas based and hybrid
technique (Carlos et al, 2019). Knee joint was used for the project
purpose as the anatomy of the knee joint on the medical image is quite

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a challenge for the experts or medical students to create the models
out especially when segmenting the ligament parts in the knee joint.
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW

A research on similar systems or algorithms can be useful on

designing a functionality of the programs for 3D reconstruction on
medical images as it helps to know what the problems are,
weaknesses that the researchers had encountered and what solutions
have they contributed to solve the problems of our life. In this
chapter, there are few researched articles reviewed regarding on the
studies of the anatomy using the 3D reconstructed models along with
the introductions of the medical images.

2.1 Anatomy study using 3D scanning.

Anatomy education is the study of the structures of the human

body which requires undergoing of dissection to study or visualize on
how the body is made up. The learning of the anatomy will provide
knowledge for medical students to understand the structure of the
human body which allows them in need for understanding the
pathology and surgical problems along with the basic tools needed in
practices. However, some complexity structures like the cerebral
structure of the brains, the tissue structures of the muscles or even the
architectural of the bones can be very tedious and hard to
comprehend if to be referring on the radiography 2D images only.
Therefore, an idea of using the 3D scanning was proposed to give a
better visualization of the anatomy of the organs.

3D scanning is a support technology which is vital for medical

field as it helps to capture the external measurement of the body

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within a shorter time with better manner and save cost. Moreover, it
helps to check the body status and allows medical students on
research of health improvements. In fact, 3D is much more accurate,
flexible, and manipulative merely with low operational cost and it is
mostly suitable and used for preclinical testing, medical training and
physical education. 3D scanning had been useful in the modern era
technology on medical fields as it began to be useful on teaching the
engineering of the organ tissues for transplantation, where medical
students are able to learn on reconstructing a model of a functional
organ to transplant along with the materials which are harmless
towards humans.
The problem of the anatomy studies using the 3D scanning is
that it can only provide the information on measurement of the outer
part surface of the organs from the medical images but could not scan
the internal information of the body. In fact, the technology could not
scan any transparent or reflective objects which give trouble for
medical students on accident case study. However, these limitations
can be resolved by coupling the 3D scanning technology with virtual
reality (VR) technology as it helps in teaching purposes and gives
improvement on communication between the medical students and
patients during the placement session (Haleem & Javaid, 2019).

2.2 3D reconstruction

A 3D reconstruction is an approach of processing the medical

image and transforming it into a 3D volumetric shape of a model. To
these days, it has also been used in different variant of the fields such
as the civil engineering field, architecture, automobile engine
construction and many more. In medical fields, 3D reconstruction is

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used to generate a model of an anatomy of the organs with better
precision of the shape rather than using hand-drawn image. For 3D
reconstruction it is mostly used for detection of the disease in the
body parts, and it is purposed to help radiologist in diagnosis and
treatment planning. In fact, 3D reconstructions can generate an actual
yet accurate 3D model amount of time and gives a better perspective
of the 3D graphics on shape and size of the anatomy of the body
parts, making more efficient diagnosis possible.

However, the drawback of the 3D reconstruction is that it requires a

high demand on Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) for the purpose of
rendering the 3D images with a better quality on the visualization of
the model. In fact, different parts of the body will have different
variant size of the anatomy and which will have different size of the
dataset as well. Bigger the dataset, the slower the time efficiency on
3D reconstructing process.

Figure 1: the flowchart of 3D reconstruction

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2.3 Medical imaging segmentation

The purpose of medical imaging segmentation is to improvise

the visualization process on handling the detection process with
better effectiveness and efficiency. Moreover, imaging segmentation
may also help medical students to practice and study on navigating
the disease that affects the anatomy function of the organs. With this
practice, they will then also able to make practice on analyzing,
diagnosing, and quantifying the disease.

However, there are weaknesses that arise for medical image

segmentation which limits the progress of the medical students to
advance their studies properly. One of the weaknesses is that there is
noise in images which will give difficulty on making the
classification of the image. This is simply because the pixel intensity
value is altered due to the noises behind the image. Therefore, the
pixels intensity value disturbs the consistency in the image’s intensity
range. Additionally, the noise can exist in the image due to the
motions in the medical image, blurring effect and diverse features
deficiency. Eventually, this partial volume averaging can be a
problem as it may causes inconsistency problem in the image pixels
intensity value. Therefore, there are many methods that had been
proposed by other researchers to overcome the limitations of the
medical image segmentation.

2.3.1 Thresholding method

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 Thresholding is a method that has been used frequently for
image segmentation, as it is very effective on analyzing the
foreground context by reducing the background of the image. This
method usually depends on the image pixel’s intensity value. The
process of the method is such that the background image was
compared using the threshold value with the forefront image to see if
there is a difference in intensity value in order to classify the image
(Masood et al, 2015). Additionally, a few operations are needed to
reduce the noise factor from the image and to achieve more effective
results in the segmentation process. Therefore, the image was
converted into a binary image and a defined threshold value was used
to differentiate the regions of the image.

Another thresholding approach on imaging segmentation is by

using the watershed segmentation. The watershed segmentation was
made used to transform the segment of the gray and white matter
from the Magnetic Resonance (MR) images. Additionally, the
watershed segmentation can produce a complete division of the
image in separated regions even if the contrast is poor and thus there
is no need to perform any post-processing work such as the contour
joining.

2.3.1.1 Strength

The strength of the thresholding method is that this method is

able to reduce the complexity of the medical image data and can
simplify the process of the recognition and classification.
Moreover, there is no requirement of a prior knowledge about
medical images.

2.3.1.2 Limitation
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 Thresholding method does not work very well if there is too
many edges of the medical images are present, or it doesn’t fit for the
flat valley. In fact, thresholding methods are very responsive to any
artifacts. Additionally, piecewise continuity cannot be assured by the
method as well (Masood et al, 2015).

2.3.2 Region growing

Region growing is another technique of image segmentation

that is mostly used in MRI segmentation for analysis of brain vessels,
brain tumor segmentation or extraction of brain surface. It is a
technique for extracting connected regions of the image which
consist of groups of pixels with similar intensities. The process of the
technique is such that the region growing will start with a seed point
(or simply pixel) that belongs to the object of interest. Next, the seed
point can be manually selected by an operator or even automatically
initialized with a seed finding algorithm. The region growing will
then check all of the neighboring pixels; if the intensities are similar
such that it satisfies a homogeneity criterion, then the pixels will be
added to the growing region. The process will be repeated until there
are no pixels left can be added to the region (Despotovi´c et al, 2014).

12
 Figure 2: The process of segmentation using the region growing
technique
The region growing technique is suitable for segmentation of
volumetric image which are mostly composed of large connected
homogenous regions. Therefore, it is successfully used in medical
image analysis to segment different parts of the tissues, organs, or
lesions from the MRI.

2.3.2.1 Strength of region growing.

Region growing method works in such that it focuses on the

gradients of the medical images and the variables with the
boundaries, and the edge information is kept for the usage of
anisotropic filter. The advantage of this method is that it takes only a
short amount of time for manual post processing process and it is a
multi-stage processing approach. Moreover, region growing method
cooperate will when region homogeneity criteria can be easily
defined and is less sensitive to noises.

2.3.2.2 Limitation of region growing.

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 The only limitation of the region growing method is that it
consumes some time and a lot of memories as this method consist of
double segmentation. This also means that more memories will be
needed when there is more addition of new projects. Furthermore,
region growing method has a difficulty on deciding the stopping
criteria for the segmentation and the scan order dependencies may
give a considerable impact to the minute regions.

2.3.3 Clustering

Clustering approach performs similar function like classifier

methods without using any training data and this approach are known
as the unsupervised method. In fact, clustering approach change
iteratively between the segmentation of the image and
characterization of properties of each class. Thus, the clustering
method can be said able to train itself using available data. Most
common use of the clustering algorithms is usually the K-mean
algorithm, fuzzy-c algorithm, or the expectation maximization (EM)
algorithm (Dzung, 2000).

2.3.3.1 K-means algorithm

The K-means algorithm is an algorithm that carries out the

clustering process by calculating the means of the intensity values of
separated class or cluster of images iteratively. Once finish
computing the mean calculation, each pixel with the nearest obtained

14
mean of the image will then be categorized for segmentation
purposes.

2.3.3.2 Fuzzy c-means algorithm

The fuzzy c-means algorithm also can be known as the

generalization of the k-mean process, is slightly different from the k-
means algorithm, which k-means process categorizes the points in
every separate class while the fuzzy c-means allows the point to
connect with more than one class.

2.3.3.3 Expectation maximization (EM)

It is a statistical approach which was used to find out the

parameter of statistical models from MAP or ML. In fact, the
methods function on the iteration basis which firstly performs the
estimation step followed by the maximization step which utilized for
the next estimation step and repeats. Additionally, the EM algorithm
uses the same concept or principles of the clustering with underlying
assumption which the data follows a Gaussian mixture model.

2.3.3.4 Strength of the clustering method

The clustering method allows performing all of the

segmentation process without any supervision of the user as it had
utilized with a trained data. Moreover, the methods are easy
implemented and can be used as a starting point for the next type of
approaches. With enough dataset to be trained, it is possible to reduce
the time consumption for the users as this method can provide a fast
computation. Lastly, the clustering method also improves the

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robustness of the clustering algorithm towards the intensity
inhomogeneity in the MR images.

2.3.3.5 Limitation of the clustering method

However, due to reasons of getting different cases of the

medical images in daily life, the datasets for the training purpose will
need to be updated which will eventually consumes the memory
usage as well as reducing the performance of the computer devices.
Moreover, the clustering method can be sensitive to noises and also
the intensity inhomogeneity if the algorithms do not incorporate
directly with the spatial modeling. In fact, the clustering method
usually only work for the MR images but not to the CT images and it
also requires spatial constraints to perform better.

2.3.4 Atlas Guided approach

The atlas guided approach is a process of analyzing image by

labeling the targeted structure or framework which commence images
made through the modalities of medical images. This process purpose
is such that to help radiologists on finding and identifying the
diseases in the body and it worked by identifying a significant
anatomy in the images. Here, segmentation was performed by
preparing atlas with compiled information of the anatomy. Then, the
atlas was used for segmentation of the images and it take account of
the registration problem to handle the segmentation process (Masood
et al, 2015).

2.3.4.1 Strength of the atlas guided approach

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 One good thing of using the atlas guided approach is that these
methods allow transferring both of the labels and the segmentation
and it provides a standard system for the purpose of studying the
morphometric properties (Dzung, 2000).

2.3.4.2 Limitation of the atlas guided approach

One problem about the atlas guided approach is that although

the nonlinear registration methods are provided but finding the
accurate segmentation of the complex structure can be difficult to the
anatomical variability. That said, one method which helps in the
model anatomical variability is by using the probabilistic atlases, but
it requires more time and interaction to collect and accumulate the
data.

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 CHAPTER 3
SOFTWARE ANALYSIS
3.1 DESIGNING SOFTWARE
Designing software for 3D printing involves a few important
considerations. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
1. Compatibility with 3D printers: The software must be compatible
with the 3D printer being used, as different printers have different
requirements and capabilities. The software should be able to output
files in a format that the printer can read and use.
2. Design tools: The software should provide a range of design tools
to allow users to create 3D models from scratch or modify existing
models. These tools can include basic shapes, sculpting tools, and the
ability to import and manipulate existing files.
3. Support structures: When printing 3D models, support structures
are often needed to prevent parts of the model from collapsing or
warping during printing. The software should have tools to
automatically generate support structures or allow users to manually
add them where needed.
4. File optimization: 3D printing files can be large, so the software
should be able to optimize the file size for faster printing and better
quality. This can involve reducing the number of triangles in the
model or simplifying complex geometry.
5. Printing parameters: The software should allow users to customize
printing parameters, such as layer height, infill density, and print
speed, to achieve the desired level of detail and quality.
6. User interface: The software should have an intuitive user interface
that is easy to use, even for those with no prior experience with 3D

18
printing or design software. It should also have helpful documentation
and tutorials to assist users in getting started.
Some popular software options for 3D printing include Blender,
Tinkercad, Fusion 360, and SketchUp.

3.2 SOFTWARES
3.2.1 Blender
Blender is a 3D computer graphics software used for creating
animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, motion
graphics, and interactive 3D applications. It is a free and open-source
software that is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating
systems.
Blender has a wide range of features that make it a popular choice
among 3D artists. Some of the key features include:
1. Modeling: Blender provides a range of modeling tools that allow
users to create and modify 3D models. It includes tools for sculpting,
painting, and texturing, as well as a range of modifiers to deform and
transform objects.
2. Animation: Blender provides powerful animation tools that allow
users to create keyframe animations, motion graphics, and
simulations. It also includes a range of physics engines for simulating
cloth, particles, and fluid dynamics.

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3.2.2 Tinkercad
Tinkercad is a browser-based 3D modeling software developed by
Autodesk. It allows users to create and design 3D models for 3D
printing, animation, and games. Tinkercad is a user-friendly and
intuitive software that is popular among students, hobbyists, and
professionals.
Tinkercad is a powerful and versatile software that has revolutionized
the way people approach 3D modeling and design. With its user-
friendly interface and robust features, it has become a popular choice
for designers, engineers, and hobbyists around the world.

3.3 FUSION 360

Fusion 360 is a 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE software developed by
Autodesk, Inc. It is a cloud-based software that allows users to design,
prototype, and manufacture products using a single platform. Fusion
360 uses parametric modeling to create 3D models that can be
modified by changing parameters. Fusion 360 has a wide range of
features and tools, including sketching, modeling, surfacing,
rendering, simulation, and CAM. It also has collaborative tools that
allow users to work on the same project in real-time with other users.
One of the unique features of Fusion 360 is its generative design
capabilities, which allow users to define constraints and parameters
for a part or assembly, and then use advanced algorithms to generate
designs that meet those requirements.
Fusion 360 can import and export a variety of file formats, including
STEP, IGES, STL, and OBJ. It also has integrations with other
Autodesk products, such as Inventor and AutoCAD, as well as third-
party software and services.

20
Overall, Fusion 360 is a powerful software that can be used for a
variety of applications, from product design and engineering to
manufacturing and prototyping. Its cloud-based architecture and
collaborative features make it a popular choice for teams working on
complex projects.

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3.4 SLICING SOFTWARE
There are several slicing software options available for 3D printing, each with
their own unique features and capabilities. Here are some popular slicing
software options:
1. Cura: Cura is a free and open-source slicing software developed by
Ultimaker. It offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features,
including support for multiple 3D printers, customizable print settings, and a
plugin system that allows for additional functionality.
2. Simplify3D: Simplify3D is a paid slicing software that offers advanced
features such as customizable support structures, multi-part printing, and the
ability to optimize printing speed and quality. It also supports a wide range of
3D printers and filament materials.
3. PrusaSlicer: PrusaSlicer is a free and open-source slicing software
developed by Prusa Research. It offers a range of advanced features such as
customizable support structures, multi-part printing, and variable layer height. It
also supports a wide range of 3D printers and filament materials.
4. Slic3r: Slic3r is a free and open-source slicing software that offers advanced
features such as customizable support structures, variable layer height, and the
ability to optimize printing speed and quality. It also supports a wide range of
3D printers and filament materials.
5. KISSlicer: KISSlicer is a paid slicing software that offers advanced features
such as customizable support structures, multi-part printing, and the ability to
optimize printing speed and quality. It also supports a wide range of 3D printers
and filament materials.
When choosing a slicing software for 3D printing, it's important to consider
your specific needs and the features that are most important to you.

22
3.4.1 CREALITY SOFTWARE
Creality offers a slicing software called Creality Slicer, which is based on the
open-source slicing program Cura. Creality Slicer is designed specifically for
Creality 3D printers and provides users with a streamlined and easy-to-use
interface.
Some of the features of Creality Slicer include:
1. Customizable print settings: Creality Slicer allows users to customize their
print settings, such as layer height, infill density, and print speed, to achieve
their desired print quality.
2. Automatic support generation: Creality Slicer has a built-in support
generation feature that automatically adds support structures to 3D models as
needed. This helps prevent print failures and makes it easier to print complex
geometries.
3. Preview mode: Creality Slicer has a preview mode that allows users to
visualize their 3D prints before actually printing them. This can help identify
potential issues and ensure that the print will turn out as intended.
4. Printing profiles: Creality Slicer comes with pre-configured printing profiles
for a range of Creality 3D printers, making it easy to get started with printing
right away.
Overall, Creality Slicer is a user-friendly slicing software that is well-suited for
beginners and experienced users alike.

23
 CHAPTER 4
DESIGNING & SLICING
4.1 DESIGNING THE 3D DIAGRAM ON FUSION 360
Fusion 360 is a 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE software developed by Autodesk,
Inc. It is a cloud-based software that allows users to design, prototype, and
manufacture products using a single platform. Fusion 360 uses parametric
modeling to create 3D models that can be modified by changing parameters.
Fusion 360 has a wide range of features and tools, including sketching,
modeling, surfacing, rendering, simulation, and CAM.

24
4.2 PRINTING THE 3D MODEL WITH CREALITY SLICING SOFTWARE
After the 3D segmentation was complete and the 3D model views are satisfied, the model is
then converted to STL format file so that the creality slicing software will be able to read it
since creality slicing software do not support the mrml format of the file. Then, open the STL
file of the 3D knee from CREALITY. The following instructions below shows the steps on
converting the mrml format file to STL.

25
4.4 Detail printings and implementation
The details of the 3D model of the knee anatomy plays the important role on
giving out the presentation to the medical students so that the medical students
can know how it is like before going into any practical. Therefore, the
implementation of the printing is such that the settings of the printing must be
set properly. The melting point of the PLA material can be very sensitive when
melting therefore the details of the material printing such as the printing
temperature, diameter of the PLA materials (to control the flow), and final
printing temperature must be checked before starting to print the 3D model. The
following figures below shows the presets of the fast printing set up and the
materials checklist setup respectively:

26
27
 CHAPTER 5
PRINTING OF KNEE USING 3D PRINTER
5.1 3D PRINTER
A 3D printer is a type of additive manufacturing technology that allows you to
create three-dimensional objects from a digital model by depositing layer upon
layer of material until the desired shape is achieved. The technology behind 3D
printing has been around for several decades, but it has only recently become
more accessible and affordable for individual users and small businesses.
The process of 3D printing begins with creating a digital model of the object
you want to create using computer-aided design (CAD) software or by scanning
an existing object using a 3D scanner. The digital model is then sliced into thin
layers, which are sent to the 3D printer.
The 3D printer then creates the object layer by layer by depositing material,
such as plastic, metal, or ceramic, onto a build platform using a nozzle or laser.
As each layer is completed, the build platform moves down slightly, and a new
layer is added on top until the object is complete.
3D printing has a wide range of applications, including rapid prototyping,
product development, architecture, medical applications, and even food
production. As the technology continues to evolve, it has the potential to
revolutionize manufacturing, enabling individuals and businesses to produce
customized and complex objects quickly and easily.
The process of 3D printing begins with creating a digital model of the object
you want to create using computer-aided design (CAD) software or by scanning
an existing object using a 3D scanner. The digital model is then sliced into thin
layers, which are sent to the 3D printer.

28
29
5.2 TYPES OF 3D PRINTER

There are several types of 3D printers, each with its own unique method of
creating objects. Here are some of the most common types of 3D printers:

1. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) - This is the most common type of 3D

printer. It melts and extrudes a filament of thermoplastic material, layer by
layer, to create an object.

2. Stereolithography (SLA) - This type of printer uses a liquid resin that is

cured by a laser or other light source to create a solid object.

3. Digital Light Processing (DLP) - This is similar to SLA, but instead of a

laser, it uses a digital light projector to cure the resin.

4. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) - This type of printer uses a laser to

selectively melt a bed of powdered material (such as nylon or metal) to create
an object.

5. Binder Jetting - This printer deposits a binding agent onto a bed of powder
(such as sandstone or metal) layer by layer to create an object.

6. Material Jetting - This type of printer uses inkjet technology to deposit

droplets of material onto a build platform layer by layer to create an object.

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7. Electron Beam Melting (EBM) - This type of printer uses an electron beam
to selectively melt a bed of powdered metal to create an object.
5.2.1 Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
FDM printers generally fall into two main categories: industrial
(professional) and prototyping (desktop) machines. Both printer
grades have distinct applications and advantages, though the main
difference between the two technologies is their scale of production.
Industrial FDM 3D printers, like the Stratasys 3D printer, are far more
expensive than their desktop counterparts - desktop machines being
mostly for at-home, consumer use - so using them for your custom
parts will run up a higher tab. As industrial machines are more
efficient and powerful than desktop FDM printers, they are more often
used for tooling, functional prototypes and end-use parts.
As well, industrial FDM printers can complete larger orders much
faster than desktop machines. They are designed for repeatability and
reliability and can produce the same part over and over with minimal
human intervention. Desktop FDM printers are not nearly as robust.
With desktop machines, you have to perform frequent user
maintenance and regular calibration.
In the table below, we break down the main differences between a
typical desktop FDM machine and an industrial one.

Property Industrial FDM Desktop FDM

Standard accuracy ± 0.15% (lower limit ± 0.2 ± 1% (lower limit: ± 1.0
mm) mm)
Typical layer thickness 0.18 - 0.5 mm 0.10 - 0.25 mm
Minimum wall thickness 1 mm 0.8 - 1 mm
Maximum build envelope Large (e.g. 900 x 600 x 900 Medium (e.g. 200 x 200 x
mm) 200 mm)
Common materials ABS, PC, ULTEM PLA, ABS, PETG
Support material Water-soluble/Break-away Same as part (typically)

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 Property Industrial FDM Desktop FDM
Production capabilities (per Low/Medium Low
machine)
Machine cost $50000+ $500 - $5000
ENDER 3D PRINTER

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 CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 6
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
6.1 FUTURE WORK
This project was able to reconstruct a 3D model of the knee anatomy
based on the medical imaging of MRI and CT scans. The details of
the model can display out physically exactly how the MRI image
shows. Therefore, one of the fundamental objectives is to develop 3D
reconstructed anatomy structure based on real medical images of the
patient. To enhance the details of the 3D models and make more
effective on medical learning, a better quality of the medical image
datasets must be obtained with more numbers of slices of the image
and better intensity of the image. In fact, a survey on types of
materials to create a real muscle-like tissues must be done so that
33
medical students will be able to understand better. Furthermore, due
to time constraints of the final year project, some parts of the knee
anatomy like the nerves are not completely done and is a challenging
to complete it as well. The future work for this project is to segment
more parts of the anatomy along with good materials to create the
model parts. Adding a software that helps on the mechanism will help
as well.

6.2 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Biology subject is a compulsory for all students

who wish to advance themselves into medical field. In fact, the
problem here is that the medical students in Malaysia are now having
trouble understanding the medical images and having difficulties in
visualization towards the medical image. The knee joint ligaments
visualization is one example of difficulty to view using medical
images. It is challenging to find ligament parts in our dataset project.

To solve the problems for the new batch of a medical students

coming into the university, using 3D model reconstruction of the
medical imaging for learning purpose is one of the solutions to help
them. Making use of the modern technologies implements and
replace any traditional method of learning or study for the students.
Learning on the model based on real datasets of the patients will
allow them to understand better of the anatomies. Therefore, 3D
Slicer provides a suitable segmentation technique that can be used for
the project to create a new part of the anatomy model and with
greater detail of the parts. This technique will allow to segment all the
parts in the medical imaging and making it to see clearer. The
segmentation of the anatomy parts from the 3D slicer will then be

34
implemented into the 3D printing software so that to create out the
model. This method will allow students to physically see the parts
before undergoing into any surgical practical. Even without the 3D
model, the students will still be able to obtain the 3D models in the
STL format so that they may get a copy and bring back home for
their studies. Even so, in the future, the 3D model may provide some
of live mechanisms and functionality of the printed organs to further
improve their learnings.

REFERENCES

[1] Abid Haleem, Mohd. Javaid. (2015) ‘3D scanning applications in

medical field: A literature- based review’, Clinical Epidemiology and
Global Health, vol. 7, 23 pages.

[2] Azza Abdel Rahman Mohammed Ali Geili and Alnazier Osman
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‘Literature Survey on 3D Brain Tumour Segmentation in MRI
Images’, International Journal of Current Research in Life Sciences,
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[3] Despotović,I. Goossens,B., and Philips, W. 2015. ‘MRI
Segmentation of the Human Brain:

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Challenges, Methods, and Applications’, Computational and
Mathematical Methods in Medicine, vol. 2015, 23 pages.

[4] Kayalibay, B., Jensen, K., and Smagt, P (2017) ‘CNN-based

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[5] Litsey,R. Allen,C. Cassidy,R. Katherine E. DeVet. Matthew

McEniry. 2020 Shaping new ideas:
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[6] Masood, Saleha & Sharif, Afifa & Yasmin, Mussarat & Raza,
Mudassar. (2015). ‘A Survey on Medical Image Segmentation’,
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[7] Pham,D,L. Chenyang Xu. and Prince,J. (2000). ‘Current Methods

in Medical Image Segmentation’, Annual Review of Biomedical
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[8] Sirota, C. (2016). ‘3D Organ Printing’. The Science Journal of the
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[9] Taha, A, A. and Hanbury, A. (2015). Metrics for evaluating 3D

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[11] Yousef AbouHashem, Dayal, M. Savanah,S. Štrkalj, G. (2015).
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Wu, AM., Wang, K., Wang, JS., Chen, CH., Yang, XD., Ni, WF., Hu,
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