Development of a Methodology to Model an Average Neck Shape from 3D Optical Scanning

Nowadays the interest for improving methodologies to design customized external devices for the neck has considerably grown, considered that neck pathologies are widespread among the population. Their design for additive manufacturing starts by acquiring the body’s part and, in order to achieve a satisfactory end result, the support of accurate reconstructed models from fast scans is relevant. At this aim, the availability of an average or statistical model could be potentially useful for reducing acquisition time and for upgrading low-resolution scans. This paper focuses on the application of a methodology for the creation of an average model of human neck. The method required the use of a set of scans, acquired by means of a structured light scanner, from which an accurate reconstruction of the neck surface was obtained. A number of healthy subjects of both genders was considered and the digital neck surfaces were used for creating an average digital model for males and for females. The methodology developed was based on mesh morphing and was applied to the sample considered with satisfactory results. The procedure is also suitable for the development of statistical models of the neck, that will cover future research.