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| Open CASCADE, simulation integrator / News / CIRTES Chooses the Open CASCAD ... | | CIRTES Chooses the Open CASCADE Surface Module to Develop OrthoStrato ® Software for the Design of Customized Orthopedic Devices |
Paris, 15 February 2001 — The Center for Engineering Research and Transfer (CIRTES, http://www.cirtes.fr) of the ESSTIN Engineering School at Saint-Dié des Vosges, France, has chosen the Open CASCADE surface module to develop the surface editing functions of its OrthoStrato software. Dedicated to orthopedics specialists, this software allows designing and modifying made-to-measure corrective devices, such as back braces and full body supports, in 3D. The orthopedic technician can easily modify the onscreen model of the orthopedic device thanks to the surface editing functions.
At the request of Ravel Orthomedic, a company specialized in orthotics, the CIRTES developed software that reduces delivery time for the corrective devices from 2 to 3 months to an average of 48 hours and shortens the production cycle by 50 to70 percent in comparison with traditional methods. This reduction in time is crucial in light of the fact that an adolescent can grow up to 10 cm per month. The software has been integrated into the OrthoStrato Concept ® process, which goes from taking a cast of the patient\'s body to the production of the final device (the complete production cycle has been patented by the CIRTES). The RP2i company commercializes this process.
The CIRTES used in particular the following capabilities of the Open CASCADE surface module:
- the surface modification algorithm, which allows pushing, pulling and rotating the surface
- the visualization functions for on-screen display
- creation of a triangular surface mesh on the CAD model and production of STL files for rapid prototyping
An important competitive advantage for the CIRTES
The use of Open CASCADE allowed developing an application that is complete, easy to use and easy to learn. Thanks to these advantages, OrthoStrato Concept has become the technological leader of the orthotics market in France.
\"The choice of the advanced surface module of Open CASCADE helped us to gain a strategic advance over our competitors,\" says Claude Barlier, Director of the CIRTES. \"With the release of the components in Open Source, we can be sure of the longevity of this exceptional development platform and of its future evolution.\"
Powerful surface functions
One of the key functions of the Open CASCADE surface module allows filling in surface gaps, a problem that is often difficult to solve in CAD. As an example, it is often necessary to create surfaces whose exact equation is unknown but whose limits (curves), as well as the continuity parameters on these limits, are known. Or, it could be necessary to use a series of points to create a surface. From the limiting conditions, Open CASCADE allows constructing surfaces which do not have an exact mathematical definition (such as Bezier curves or B-splines), but which are derived from the deformation of a known surface (plane, cylinder or other), according to criteria of minimalization of energy. |
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