Lower-limb prosthetic sockets could soon be printed in remote locations and even in users’ homes, thanks to a groundbreaking process developed by manufacturing experts at Loughborough University.
Simin Li, a senior lecturer in mechanics of biomaterials in the School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, has pioneered a fully digital design-to-manufacturing process that has the potential to revolutionise lower-limb-socket production by allowing printing outside of hospital settings.
Advertisement
Traditionally, the creation of a lower-limb socket has been a time-consuming process, taking around three-to-six weeks. The method involves taking a cast of the limb, which serves as a mould for crafting a socket. The process necessitates visits to hospitals, relies heavily on labour-intensive skills and expertise, and often involves a trial-and-error approach.
The resulting sockets, according to Li, are more akin to ‘works of art than medical devices’ and can lead to skin and stability issues if they don’t provide a perfect fit.
Advertisement
This process also has to be repeated frequently as sockets wear down quickly with use. They’re replaced every three to six months for adults and even more regularly for children.
In contrast, Li’s revolutionary method utilises a variety of technologies and unique coding to create a socket through a fully digital process. By capturing a 3D scan of the user’s limb with a digital scanner and employing computer-aided design software, a personalised design profile is generated, which can be imported into a 3D printer for manufacturing. The result is a fully customised socket that can be produced in as little as eight hours.
Advertisement
What’s unique about Li’s method is its potential to enable 3D printing of sockets in remote locations and even in users’ homes. The digital-scanning and 3D-printing facilities can be deployed to different areas, including under-served regions and developing countries with limited access to healthcare.
Lower-limb-prosthetic users could scan their limb, send the scan to a healthcare expert who can process the design remotely, and receive a customised design file in return. This file can then be used to conveniently print a socket in the user’s location, overcoming geographical barriers and transforming the way personalised medical devices are accessed and produced.
‘By using a fully digital design-to-manufacturing workflow and additive manufacturing – or 3D printing as it’s commonly known – our entire process for creating a socket is quantitative and iterative, therefore, highly customisable, repeatable and efficient,’ Li said. ‘By using the innovative digital solution, healthcare professions can focus more of their valuable time with users and therefore, increase the accessibility for all and on-demand. The ultimate goal for this project is to make the design and manufacturing process easier and more accessible for both the healthcare professions and user so that one day, the prosthetic socket can be manufactured in local community areas, hospitals and even in users’ homes on-demand.’
Advertisement
Li and his team have optimised their 3D-printed-socket designs through extensive testing in their in-house facilities, which involves subjecting printed prototypes to loads ranging from 6,000 to 16,000 Newtons, equivalent to between seven and 20 times body weight, depending on the user.
The team’s technique also allows them to increase design freedoms, meaning that they can make regions on the socket harder or softer depending on the users’ needs, which Li hopes will improve comfort and further facilitate users’ participation in play, physical activity and sports.
Advertisement
Their next step is to collaborate with academic and industrial partners to transform their 3D-printed-socket prototypes into real-world products and explore the application of their process in diverse settings.
‘I hope to see this research one day benefiting lower-limb-prosthetic users worldwide and kick-start broader discussions about using 3D printing for medical devices and beyond, Li said. ‘Currently, the entry barriers for accessing healthcare facilities, medical professionals and 3D-printing techniques in remote locations is too high. We believe our research will not only break down these barriers, but act as a catalyst for other exciting innovations that utilise 3D printing.’
Paratriathlete Finley Jakes, a lower-limb-prosthetic user and recent Loughborough University graduate, visited Li and his team to hear more about their research. Jakes, who is a member of the British Triathlon Paralympic World Class Programme and has represented and won medals for Great Britain at events around the world, told the researchers it usually takes around a month for him to receive a socket and that he has experienced skin issues as the result of wearing poorly fitted sockets.
‘I think this research could benefit so many people, especially children growing up that need sockets readily available. It has huge potential,’ he said.
More detail on Li and his team’s research can be found here.