Production of Human Osteological Replicas Using a Combination of Structured Light Scanning and 3D Printing Technologies

Knowledge of gross anatomical structure is the foundation of medical education, allowing students to develop an understanding of normal anatomy to then understand pathological conditions and subsequent manifestations of disease. Traditionally, anatomy education is conducted using a combination of lecture- and laboratory-based learning with an emphasis on “hands-on” engagement of the student with real human cadaveric material. Ethical and practical considerations such as the sourcing of cadavers and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic however have created demand for an alternative resource that is accurate, practical, and cost-effective. This study combined the technologies of structured light scanning and 3D printing to recreate osteological specimens including the human scapula, femur, and various vertebrae and clavicles. Several variables in the scanning and printing processes were investigated to establish their effect on accuracy and final printed appearance. To assess accuracy, measurements were taken from selected digital models and their corresponding 3D-printed models and then compared to the original bone. To assess satisfaction and opinions of the 3D-printed models, a group of participants (n = 57) were invited to interact with the models and provide responses to a questionnaire assessing four variables in the 3D printing process: model color, material type, scale, and layer thickness. This study concluded that accuracy was well conserved during the process, with 3D digital models maintaining more accuracy than the 3D-printed replicas as anticipated. Evaluation responses also revealed that a 50 or 75% scale model, printed in white polylactic acid (PLA) materials with 0.30 mm layer thickness, is likely to represent the best teaching resource in terms of cost-effectiveness, overall appeal, and usability.