Thank you for your interest in the Vismach 3D Orthotics Digitizer , which also captures 3D foam boxes, plaster casts, and casting socks too.

 

There are a few 3D technologies available in the market place. As 3D experts with decades of combined experience, we demonstrate below the pros/cons of each technology, and why the Vismach 3D orthotics digitizer delivers the best overall performance.

The Vismach 3D Orthotics Digitizer employs active triangulation by pattern projection, which is a mature technology. It is widely used in 3D face, foot, body digitizing as well as industrial measurement and reverse engineering. A number of highly respected companies around the world offer 3D digitizing solutions based on structured light projection. It is fast, accurate, and generates high quality 3D mesh. It has no moving parts to worn out or require any maintenance, it is also safe on the eye because we use white light, not laser.

Vismach 3D Orthotics Digitizer satisfies all requirements to replace plaster casts or foam impression with digital casting:

• Instantaneous capture unaffected by motion of the foot.
• Allows for standard neutral positioning.
• The foot is held without contact with the device.
• Captures plantar 3D contours with resolution better than plaster.
• Captures the forefoot to rear-foot relationship.
• Royalty free with industry standard 3D output.
• Or, customized LAB specific 3D file format to lock up clinics.
• Very affordable for mass deployment.

Laser scanning scans a line of laser light across the foot to generate 3D mesh. It is an accurate method, and widely used, to scan stationary objects. However, when you try to scan foot with a laser line, any minute movement by the patient or the practitioners’ hands holding the patient’s foot will compromise scanning accuracy. Try holding your hands out perfectly still for 3-5 seconds, and you will see that you should introduce 1/2 inch (12mm) of movement easily. It’s even worse when you are holding the patient’s foot at the same time.

Recently, something that works like a flatbed scanner came on the scene, which scans the bottom of the foot and try to generate three dimensional data based on the idea that the depth info can be deduced from contrast/shades. This method is called shape from shading and could work on some perfect (Lambertian Reflectance) surfaces under perfect conditions (uniform lighting), but not on real feet generally. The result is generally low quality 3D mesh with lots of bumps.

Then, there is the pressure sensing technology, which has nothing to do with 3D measurement. Although sometimes you will see a nice pseudo-color display like the one shown above, there is really no way to generate a 3D mesh based on pressure distribution map.

It is easy to see why Vismach 3D Orthotics Digitizer is the best choice for foot orthotics professionals.