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Polymer insert is one of the components of a knee joint endoprosthesis, allowing patients to sustain their mobility. They are mostly made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) that is not without flaws. Inserts can be manufactured by machining (substractive techniques) or by the use of rapid prototyping techniques (additive manufacturing). In order to increase their strength, is increasingly being considered replacing UHMWPE with polyether ether ketone (PEEK). This material has been analyzed in this work due to the growing interest in using this material for the production of implants. This study contains a comparative analysis of two inserts made using two different methods. Its aim is to verify the effect of the manufacturing technique on material uniformity.

AbstractIn recent years, a rapid increase in the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies in medicine, especially in the manufacturing of the diagnostic models, can be observed. In some cases, there is a need to fabricate transparent models that allow visualization of internal structures of the object. Unfortunately, techniques used to manufacture such models are often very expensive and time-consuming. The above-mentioned issues were the motivation for developing a new method of fabrication transparent models for visualization of internal structures for planning surgical treatments. This paper presents the process of making transparent models using the newly developed method – the stacked layers method. In order to compare this new method and one of the most common 3D printing technologies – fused deposition modeling (FDM) – the models for two medical cases using both of these methods were fabricated. As a result of this work, it can be concluded that the stacked layers method provides faster and cheaper way of making transparent medical models. The main features of fabrication process that have a huge impact on quality of the models made by new method were pointed. The results of this study suggest that models fabricated with the use of this method can be useful as a diagnostic tool in medical applications for planning surgical treatments.

Electric wheelchairs make it easier for disabled and elderly people to live, move, interact, and participate in society. Moving a wheelchair in open spaces is relatively easy, but in closed and small spaces, maneuvering is difficult. Solutions to such problems for people with disabilities are applicable to a relatively small group of recipients and are mostly custom-made solutions, whose considerable cost is a significant barrier to accessibility. New technologies can provide an opportunity to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in this aspect. Using selected elements of complex automation and control systems, cost-effective solutions can be created that facilitate the functioning of people with disabilities. This paper presents an analysis of hazards and problems when maneuvering a wheelchair in narrow passageways, as well as the authors’ solution to this problem, and the concept and assumptions of a mechatronic anti-collision system based on 2D LiDAR laser scanners. This solution is composed of a proprietary 2D rotating scanner mechanism that ensures the acquisition of 3D images of the environment around the wheelchair. Preliminary tests of this solution yielded promising results. Further research will include miniaturization of the device.