A Portable 3D Printing Kit For Sockets
3D printing is gaining interest as a potential application to provide prosthetic care in rural areas and conflict zones. The (LIMBKIT) is a portable/mobile station created by a nonprofit organization called Operation Namaste that includes a 3D printer and tools to be used by prosthetists to provide care in places that lack access to well-established labs.
In our project at the University of British Columbia, we collaborated with several prosthetic clinics in order to conduct a study on the functionality of the 3D-printed prosthetic sockets produced by the 3D printer that is installed on the LIMBKIT. We successfully recruited eight participants (transtibial amputees) from Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Each participant wore their traditionally fabricated prosthetic sockets before transitioning to their customized 3D-printed prosthesis. We rigorously monitored their performance remotely using multiple outcome measures (e.g., Timed Up and Go test). Additionally, we asked them to complete several questionnaires to assess critical factors, such as the comfort of the 3D-printed socket. At the end of the experiment, we have conducted semi-structured interviews with both participants and their prosthetists to document their experience.
Contact:
The project has been completed, If you have any questions, please email us at: coordinator.matterslab@ubc.ca
Principle Investigators:
William C Miller, Department of Occupation Therapy and Occupational Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada