Anatomically conforming apparatuses, systems, and methods, and applications thereof

A method for the automated design of a set of anatomically conformal apparatuses, the method comprising:

• obtaining a set of three-dimensional (3-D) anatomical scans that represent a predetermined population of individuals;
• applying an iterative clustering algorithm to the set of 3-D anatomical scans, thereby producing one or more clusters of scans;
• and
• designing an anatomically conformal apparatus for each of the one or more clusters of scans, thereby creating a set of anatomically conformal apparatuses,
• wherein the one or more clusters of scans are grouped according to one or more physical parameters.

A method for producing a set of anatomically conforming apparatus, the method comprising:

• clustering three-dimensional (3-D) facial scans for a group of users based on a plurality of facial measurements from the 3-D facial scans;
• evaluating the clustering using one or more metrics to find a set of anatomically conforming apparatuses that fit the group of users, wherein the one or more metrics comprise a minimum level of fit and/or a maximum level of applied pressure to achieve a fit;
• and
• producing the set of anatomically conforming apparatuses.

A method for the automated design of an anatomically confirming apparatus, the method comprising:

• assembling a morphable face model based on at least one three-dimensional (3-D) face scan of a user;
• identifying a plurality of 3-D landmarks, and a pixel position associated with each of the plurality of 3-D landmarks, in the at least one 3-D face scan;
• applying a scaled orthographic transform to the morphable face model to match facial landmarks on the morphable face model to the plurality of 3-D landmarks;
• fit the morphable face model to the at least one 3-D face scan;
• warp the at least one 3-D face scan to make the user's expression neutral;
• determining locations of the facial landmarks on the morphable model;
• refining, by the at least one warped 3-D face scan, the locations of the facial landmarks on the morphable model;
• selecting, by an iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm, an anatomically confirming apparatus that best fits the refined locations of the facial landmarks.