A review on the use of additive manufacturing to produce lower limb orthoses

Alqahtani, Mohammed S.; Al-Tamimi, Abdulsalam Abdulaziz; Almeida, Henrique A.; Cooper, Glen M.; Bartolo, Paulo Jorge Da Silva

doi:10.1007/s40964-019-00104-7

Cited by 32 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 37 publications

(43 reference statements)

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“…5 Additive manufacturing methods have also been utilized for lower limb rehabilitation robot exoskeletons. 71 The use of these additive manufacturing has made it convenient for the development of personalized robot exoskeletons. A 3D printed robot hip exoskeleton has been proposed in Churchwell et al 72 The exoskeleton replaced a CNC machine aluminum part with the 3D printed polylactic acid part.…”

Section: Manufacturing Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exoskeleton robots for lower limb assistance: A review of materials, actuation, and manufacturing methods

Hussain

Goecke

Mohammadian

2021

Proc Inst Mech Eng H

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The field of robot-assisted physical rehabilitation and robotics technology for providing support to the elderly population is rapidly evolving. Lower limb robot aided rehabilitation and assistive technology have been a focus for the engineering community during the last three decades as several robotic lower limb exoskeletons have been proposed in the literature as well as some being commercially available. Numerous manufacturing techniques and materials have been developed for lower limb exoskeletons during the last two decades, resulting in the design of a variety of robot exoskeletons for gait assistance for elderly and disabled people. One of the most important aspects of developing exoskeletons is the selection of the most appropriate proper material. The material selection strongly influences the overall weight and performance of the exoskeleton robot. The most suitable fabrication method for material is also an important parameter for the development of lower limb robot exoskeletons. In addition to the materials and manufacturing methods, the actuation method plays a vital role in the development of these robot exoskeletons. Even though various materials, manufacturing methods and actuators are reported in the literature for these lower limb robot exoskeletons, there are still avenues of improvement in these three domains. In this review, we have examined various lower limb robotic exoskeletons, concentrating on the three main aspects of material, manufacturing, and actuation. We have focused on the advantages and drawbacks of various materials and manufacturing practices as well as actuation methods. A discussion on future directions of research is provided for the engineering community covering the material, manufacturing and actuation methods.

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Section: Manufacturing Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exoskeleton robots for lower limb assistance: A review of materials, actuation, and manufacturing methods

Hussain

Goecke

Mohammadian

2021

Proc Inst Mech Eng H

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“…Other clinical strategies include biological grafts (e.g., autografts and allografts), or synthetic bone graft substitutes produced using a wide range of biocompatible and usually biodegradable materials [ 4 ]. External fracture fixation is a common and well-established method used by orthopedic surgeons to treat musculoskeletal injuries [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. This method is widely used for the treatment of different injuries or conditions such as compound fractures, acute fractures, soft tissue injuries, non-unions, delayed union, mal-union, and limb lengthening [ 8 , 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is also the ideal technology to produce personalized lightweight optimized external fixation devices. A wide range of additive manufacturing techniques and materials have been investigated as reported in [ 7 ]. This paper is the first study to address the need to redesign and develop a personalized (i.e., custom-fit) external fixator for lower limb injuries combining design optimization to be produced by additive manufacturing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of a Patient-Specific External Fixation Device for Lower Limb Injuries

et al. 2021

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The use of external fixation devices is considered a valuable approach for the treatment of bone fractures, providing proper alignment to fractured fragments and maintaining fracture stability during the healing process. The need for external fixation devices has increased due to an aging population and increased trauma incidents. The design and fabrication of external fixations are major challenges since the shape and size of the defect vary, as well as the geometry of the human limb. This requires fully personalized external fixators to improve its fit and functionality. This paper presents a methodology to design personalized lightweight external fixator devices for additive manufacturing. This methodology comprises data acquisition, Computer tomography (CT) imaging analysis and processing, Computer Aided Design (CAD) modelling and two methods (imposed predefined patterns and topology optimization) to reduce the weight of the device. Finite element analysis with full factorial design of experiments were used to determine the optimal combination of designs (topology optimization and predefined patterns), materials (polylactic acid, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polyamide) and thickness (3, 4, 5 and 6 mm) to maximize the strength and stiffness of the fixator, while minimizing its weight. The optimal parameters were found to correspond to an external fixator device optimized by topology optimization, made in polylactic acid with 4 mm thickness.

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“…These devices are highly patient-specific and are a result from the specialized skills and experience of the individual prosthetist and orthotist (P&O) [ 1 ]. The provision of these prostheses and orthoses is time-consuming and wasteful, and not completely customized [ 2 ], with production costs a burden [ 3 ]. They require ongoing maintenance and monitoring, and repeated visits to a clinic to ensure optimal fit and function throughout their use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leveraging Digital Technology to Overcome Barriers in the Prosthetic and Orthotic Industry: Evaluation of its Applicability and Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Binedell¹,

Wong²,

Blessing³

2020

JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol

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Background The prosthetic and orthotic industry typically provides an artisan “hands-on” approach to the assessment and fitting of orthopedic devices. Despite growing interest in digital technology for prosthetic and orthotic service provision, little is known of the quantum of use and the extent to which the current pandemic has accelerated the adoption. Objective This study’s aim is to assess the use of digital technology in prosthetics and orthotics, and whether its use can help overcome challenges posed by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A web-based survey of working prosthetists, orthotists, and lower limb patients was conducted between June and July 2020 and divided into three sections: lower limb amputees, prosthetist and orthotist (P&O) currently using digital technologies in their practice, and P&O not using any digital technology. Input was sought from industry and academia experts for the development of the survey. Descriptive analyses were performed for both qualitative (open-ended questions) and quantitative data. Results In total, 113 individuals responded to the web-based survey. There were 83 surveys included in the analysis (patients: n=13, 15%; prosthetists and orthotists: n=70, 85%). There were 30 surveys excluded because less than 10% of the questions were answered. Out of 70 P&Os, 31 (44%) used digital technologies. Three dimensional scanning and digital imaging were the leading technologies being used (27/31, 88%), primarily for footwear (18/31, 58%), ankle-foot orthoses, and transtibial and transfemoral sockets (14/31, 45%). Digital technology enables safer care during COVID-19 with 24 out of 31 (77%) respondents stating it improves patient outcomes. Singapore was significantly less certain that the industry's future is digital (P=.04). The use of virtual care was reported by the P&O to be beneficial for consultations, education, patient monitoring, or triaging purposes. However, the technology could not overcome inherent barriers such as the lack of details normally obtained during a physical assessment. Conclusions Digital technology is transforming health care. The current pandemic highlights its usefulness in providing safer care, but digital technology must be implemented thoughtfully and designed to address issues that are barriers to current adoption. Technology advancements using virtual platforms, digitalization methods, and improved connectivity will continue to change the future of health care delivery. The prosthetic and orthotic industry should keep an open mind and move toward creating the required infrastructure to support this digital transformation, even if the world returns to pre–COVID-19 days.

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A review on the use of additive manufacturing to produce lower limb orthoses

Cited by 32 publications

References 37 publications

Exoskeleton robots for lower limb assistance: A review of materials, actuation, and manufacturing methods

Exoskeleton robots for lower limb assistance: A review of materials, actuation, and manufacturing methods

Optimization of a Patient-Specific External Fixation Device for Lower Limb Injuries

Leveraging Digital Technology to Overcome Barriers in the Prosthetic and Orthotic Industry: Evaluation of its Applicability and Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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