Tessellation and contour extraction algorithms for rapid prototyping replication of 3D-/spl mu/CT reconstructions of cancellous bone

A set of algorithms has been developed and evaluated for 3D and 2 1/2 D rapid prototyping replication of 3D reconstructions of cancellous bone samples. The algorithms replicate a voxel map without any loss of fidelity, so as to increase the validity of the comparison of mechanical tests on the 3D reconstructed models with those predicted by finite element analyses. The evaluation is both in terms of algorithmic complexity and the resultant data set size. The former determines the feasibility of the conversion process, whereas the latter the potential success of the manufacturing process.