Acquisition of 3D facial geometry of patients' scheduled for RT 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility Study: Acquisition of 3D facial geometry of patients' scheduled for head and neck Radiotherapy Treatment (RT).
IRAS ID
209119
Contact name
Mark Fisher
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NHS SSI Form - 320957 [Tom Roques], Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital R&D
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
We are investigating the feasibility of 3D Printing to manufacture masks used to immobilise patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment for tumours affecting the head and neck. Masks are ‘made to measure’ and the methods currently used to make them are invasive. Some patients' find this particularly unpleasant. Computerised manufacturing using a surface model of the patient's skull / facial geometry automatically recovered from the planning CT offers a possible solution, but extracting the surface model from CT is challenging.
To evaluate our approach we need access to CT data, together with an accurate (ground truth) 3D facial model, for a small cohort of patients. An accurate surface model can be acquired in a few minutes using a hand-held laser scanner. By comparing models made from the laser scan and the CT data we can measure errors and assess our algorithms.
The laser scanning is non-intrusive and the scan can be completed in approximately 15 minutes. The scanning process involves the patient sitting in a chair while a researcher performs the scan. As a precautionary measure we require the patient to wear an eye mask as although the scanner is CE marked and completely safe patients' may have read reports in the press of eye damage resulting from the illegal use of higher powered lasers. The process can be completed in stages (e.g. 3 x 5 minutes) with a break of 2-3 minutes between each session. The laser scanner will then be moved around the patient to obtain a set of 3D points forming the surface of the patient’s head.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0485
Date of REC Opinion
12 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion