Optical 3D Scanning System in Medical Applications

Various technologies are employed in the medical field to measure the internal structure of the human body. These technologies include scanning systems that use ionizing radiation, magnetic fields, and acoustic waves to assess the internal structure of the human body. Despite the effectiveness of these traditional scanning systems, optical scanners present an alternative technology that does not involve ionizing radiation, providing a safe method for capturing and analyzing the human body. While optical scanners are generally used for measuring the external structure of the human body, some are also employed in medical applications for examining internal organs and tissues. Optical scanners can be categorized as active or passive systems. Active optical scanners emit optical signals to interact with surfaces, making them suitable for assessing various human body characteristics or for robot surgical navigation. On the other hand, passive optical scanners capture the shape of the human body without emitting light, and they find applications in detecting various deformities and injuries. This chapter presents active optical scanners based on laser and structural light, as well as passive optical scanners based on cameras and landmarks or match algorithms. In addition, medical applications for these systems are presented according to the state of the art.