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Systems designed for manufacturing and/or repair of spinal orthopedic orthoses and prostheses using computer-assisted design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques; most systems can be also used for design and manufacturing of seat cushions intended to accommodate the spine while seating . These systems typically consist of a scanning unit that combines light sources and a video camera for in-vivo scanning of the spine, a workstation with appropriate software to process the data from the digital topographical image taken by the scanner and provide output for a computerized manufacturing unit (e.g. milling/drilling or additive manufacturing machine), and an automated computer milling/drilling machine that manufacture the orthosis, prosthesis, or seat cushion. Some systems may also take digitized data from mechanical contact mapping units (e.g., pressure digitizer). CAD/CAM spinal orthopedic systems are intended for automated manufacturing of orthoses and prostheses from ceramic, composite plastics, and/or metal blocks. All units of the systems may be located in orthopedic offices or the manufacturing unit may be located in a separate orthopedic laboratory.
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