Design and production of tailor-made sockets for lower limb amputee prosthesis using digital & optical methods integrated to additive manufacturing technology

• Grant number: 18/22574-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: April 01, 2020
• End date: April 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Manufacturing Processes
• Principal Investigator: Artur Rodrigues Teixeira
• Grantee: Artur Rodrigues Teixeira
• Company: Print Dreams 3D Artigos Ortopédicos Ltda
• CNAE: Fabricação de instrumentos e materiais para uso médico e odontológico e de artigos ópticos
• City: Campinas
• Associated researchers: André Luiz Jardini Munhoz
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/04364-0 - Design and production of tailor-made sockets for lower limb amputee prosthesis using digital & optical methods integrated to additive manufacturing technology, BP.PIPE

Abstract

This project presents an innovative approach based on digital data and computer graphics tools to improve the design of sockets for lower limbs prosthesis to be printed using the additive manufacturing method. The core of the approach is the detailed geometric model of a stump, with external surface and internal bones. To obtain this model, Optical Scanning, Reverse Engineering and two medical imaging technologies are integrated: Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance. The obtained virtual model must be adjusted using anatomical modeling and finite element simulation software. After proper adjustments, sockets can be produced directly using Additive Manufacturing technologies. Comparing the digital model of the limb with the plaster cast model made by an orthopedic technician, through the traditional manual process, we can see some differences concentrated in critical zones whose deformations depend strictly on the manipulation of the technician. The analyzes of the causes of geometric differences mentioned above provide guidelines for a process capable of reproducing in the virtual project the effects obtained by the prosthetic technician, using his skills and experiences. (AU)