Advances in additive manufacturing processes and their use for the fabrication of lower limb prosthetic devices

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Traditional methods of prosthesis fabrication are not efficient and user centric and are made for common purposes without focusing on individual demands of user which leads to rejection of prosthesis for long-term use. Utilizing advanced additive manufacturing techniques for fabrication of prosthesis makes the development process user centric and covers all the user demands thus providing better fit, comfort, and more stable gait rehabilitation for the user.

Areas covered

The articles reporting fabrication of lower limb prosthesis and its socket are included in the study. Standard fabrication and additive manufacturing method are both systematically assessed by the reviewers. The review also covers the advanced methods of additive manufacturing that are presently being used for fabrication of rehabilitation devices.

Expert opinion

Additive manufacturing method of fabrication of prosthesis provides more flexibility for manufacturing prosthesis parts as per demand of the user. The fabrication method takes into account the residual limb and thus makes the prosthesis user-specific providing better comfort and fit.

KEYWORDS:

• Rehabilitation
• lower limb
• prostheses
• additive manufacturing
• gait

Article highlights

• Present method of fabrication of prosthesis is not optimal.

• Additive manufacturing presents a technique to develop prosthesis that provides better fit for its user.

• Very few existing literatures focus on the usage of additive manufacturing for fabrication of lower limb prosthesis.

• Additive manufacturing processes and their use for fabrication of lower limb sockets, above knee and below knee prosthesis are summarized.

List of Abbreviations

AK Above Knee

BK Below Knee

FDM Fused Deposition Modeling

AM Additive Manufacturing

PP Polyjet Printing

FEM/A Finite Element Method/Analysis

ESAR Energy Storing and Return

3D Three-Dimensional

SLA Stereolithography

PLA Poly (Lactic Acid)

PCL Poly (caprolactone)

SLS Selective Laser Sintering

TTA Transtibial Amputation

TFA Transfemoral Amputation

Reviewers Disclosure

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.