Open-Source Assistive Technology Projects in Additive Manufacturing: Application in Children with Disabilities

• Grant number: 24/03716-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Bolzan Agnelli Martinez
• Grantee: Lara Malheiros de Melo
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: This research project aims to innovate in the field of Assistive Technology(AT), focusing on the processes of implementation, adaptation and readjustment of anAdditive Manufacturing product aimed at children with specific demands. With globaltechnological advancement, the contribution of Assistive Technology (AT) has becomeincreasingly clear and evident, enabling significant occupational participation, in differentcontexts and daily activities, and may be decisive for maintaining or improving functional2capacity and independence. Considering childhood, it is necessary to understand the aspectsrelated to the condition of disability and its engagement in activities, for each stage of life,and AT can help in the active discovery and participation in different routine situations. Thehealthcare area has been widely benefited by emerging advances such as, for example,Additive Manufacturing, which has been adding to the way of developing tools that provideautonomy and support all types of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Therefore, this researchproject aims to innovate in the field of technologies applied to health. Objective: Conduct asurvey of open-source projects in the area of AT for 3D printing available in databases, withan emphasis on ADLs, verify whether they are applicable and satisfactory to the needs ofchildren with disabilities and implement one or more devices with an end user. Method: Thisis a survey study and exploratory field research with a qualitative-quantitative nature thatforesees the presence of a survey stage characterized by the search for open-source projects ofAssistive Technology devices with the focus on ADLs and tracking the specific needs of thisaudience for the use of AT's from an electronic form. A subject will also be selected accordingto established criteria for implementing resources according to their specific needs.