From:	Sebastian Wiers m0ng005e@*********.com
Subject:	Laser-molding
Date:	Tue, 7 Sep 1999 00:19:17 -0700

> > A real-life use I know of for this technique is in the field of
medical
> > prosthetics. One doctor has used it successfully to create
replacement
> > skull-plates for cranially-conjoined twins who have been separated.
> > Because the parts are computer-measured and laser-cut, the level of
> > precision is high enough that they don't have to trim & test-fit them
> > during surgery, reducing operation time.
>
> Oh wow, I had NOT even considered this option actually. With this
technique,
> would it therefore be possible to "laser design/cut" something like
> "Precision Fitting Dermal Armor?"

Hell yes- that's probaly what you would HAVE to do (its not likely to come
"off the rack") Similar procedures are already used for designing
artificial hips and joints. More amazing, there are machines that drill
out the sockets for these artificail hips, based on stored NMRI data and
attachmant to pre-anchored (and scanned) "reference points". Mike M. and I
had a nice "discusion" about this- he did not seem to realise how much of
implant surgery is probably going to be (and already is) data maniplation
and programming, as opposed to "surgery" in the classic "manual
dexterity"
sense.

Mongoose