CT-generated porous hydroxyapatite orbital floor prosthesis as a prototype bioimplant.

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite bioceramic was used for the manufacture of an orbital floor prosthesis from spiral CT data acquired transaxially at 1-mm beam collimation, pitch of 1, and 0.2-mm reconstruction intervals. CT data were converted to vector file format for subsequent prosthesis manufacture on a stereo-lithography machine. The orbital floor prosthesis was engrafted onto an acrylic model of the orbit as a qualitative indication of its overall accuracy. High anatomic accuracy was achieved, as determined by visual inspection. Cross-hatching of the vector file data allowed a porous internal architecture of the prosthesis. Refinements in chemical structure of the hydroxyapatite bioceramic are expected to enhance mechanical properties.