Calibrating Minolta VIVID 910 3D laser scanner for medical mapping

The paper describes the calibration of a Minolta Vivid 910 3D laser scanner for medical applications such as denture, trunk, limb and craniofacial (face and skull) 3D mapping. The calibration of the scanner was essential to determine the accuracy and reliability of the instrument. The Vivid 910 was calibrated using three objects of different shape, size and surface texture. The objects used were: 1) a smooth-surface cylinder; 2) a dental cast; and 3) a mannequin. Each object was scanned five times and was later measured using close-range photogrammetry technique and/or a Microscribe 3D electronic digitiser system. The measurements obtained by the scanner were compared with the measurements obtained by the other two techniques. In addition, the close-range photogrammetry measurements were held as the true values. The results show that the scanner has accuracies ranging from 0.1- 0.3mm at one standard deviation depending on the shape, size and surface texture of the objects