An Ad-hoc Solution for Ear Anatomy Acquisition in Pediatric Setting

Medical simulation tools have become increasingly popular in recent years for planning complex and non-routine surgeries. This applies also to autologous ear reconstruction, a procedure that is performed when patients have a complete or partial lack of the outer ear. On the basis of the contralateral ear, the physician sculpts a portion of costal cartilage that is then placed subcutaneously in the auricular region. Simulation tools can help the physician to familiarize with the specific geometries and shapes of the ear to be reconstructed. Making simulation tools requires the 3D acquisition of the ear, which can be done through optical scanners or diagnostic images (CT scan). This work focused on the development of a non-invasive, low-cost scanner for the acquisition of the outer ear. To this end, Intel RealSense D405 cameras were chosen, and a dedicated structure for the acquisition of ear anatomy was designed and manufactured, coupled with management software. The design of the scanner leveraged tests made with the Blender software for the optimization of the position and number of devices, while ensuring complete ear acquisition. Tests allowed the validation of the instrument both qualitatively, indicating the satisfaction of the medical staff in using the scanner, and quantitatively, measuring the deviation of the acquisition from a reference model obtained with professional scanners.