Application of Phase Measuring Profilometry in Digital Data Acquisition for CAD/CAM of Unilateral Orbital Prostheses with Remaining Eye Open

Objective To investigate whether a phase measuring profilometry-based digitizer is suitable for capturing digital facial image to reconstruct a 3D digital face model for computer-aided design and manufacture of unilateral orbital prostheses when the remaining eye keeps open. Methods A phase measuring profilometry-based digitizer was used to acquire the primitive point data of the face profile of a patient with left orbital defect and the primitive point data was then used to construct a 3D digital facial model consequently with 3D image processing software and a reverse engineering software. With this digital model, a resin model was produced by rapid prototyping system and was used to fabricate the final prosthesis. Results A 3D digital face model ready for computer-aided design and manufacture of unilateral orbital prosthesis was successfully reconstructed with data acquired from the phase measuring profilometry-based digitizer and the final orbital prosthesis fabricated with the help of this digital model fitted the patient very well. Conclusion The phase measuring profilometry is safe and highly efficient to capture a 3D digital image of facial defects, and would be helpful to the computer-aided design and manufacture of unilateral orbital prostheses.