Utilising 3D printing techniques when providing unique assistive devices: a case report

Sarah Jane Day, Shaun Patrick Riley

Research output: Contribution to journalSpecial issuepeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)
145 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background – The evolution of 3D printing into prosthetics has opened conversations about the availability, and cost of prostheses. This report will discuss how a Prosthetic team incorporated additive manufacture techniques into the treatment of a patient with a amputation to create and test a unique assistive device which he could use to hold his French horn.
Case Description and Methods –Using a process of shape capture, photogrammetry, CAD and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), a suitable assistive device was designed and tested. The design was fabricated using 3D printing. Patient satisfaction was measured using a Pugh’s Matrix, and a cost comparison was made between the process used and traditional manufacturing.
Findings – Patient satisfaction was high. The 3D printed devices were 56% cheaper to fabricate than a similar laminated device.
Outcome and Conclusion – CAD and 3D printing proved an effective method for designing, testing and fabricating a unique assistive device.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)45-49
Number of pages5
JournalProsthetics and Orthotics International
Volume42
Issue number1
Early online date11 Dec 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2018

Keywords

  • 3D printing
  • prosthetics
  • assistive devices
  • additive manufacturing
  • computer-aided design
  • computer-aided manufacturing
  • fabrication techniques
  • upper-limb prosthetics
  • three-dimensional printing
  • music

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