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Design of an Orthopedic Product by Using Additive Manufacturing Technology: The Arm Splint

  • Education & Training
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Abstract

The traditional fabrication process of custom-made splints has hardly undergone any progress since the beginning of its use at the end of the eighteenth century. New manufacturing techniques and the new materials can help to modernize this treatment method of fractures. The use of Additive Manufacturing has been proposed in recent years as an alternative process for the manufacture of splints and there has been an increase in public awareness and exploration. For this reason, in this study a splint model printed in 3D, that replaces the deficiencies of the cast maintaining its virtues, has been proposed. The proposed methodology is based on three-dimensional digitalization techniques and 3D modeling with reverse engineering software. The work integrates different scientific disciplines to achieve its main goal: to improve life quality of the patient. In addition, the splint has been designed based on the principles of sustainable development. The design of splint is made of Polycarbonate by technique of Additive Manufacturing with fused deposition manufacturing, and conceived with organic shapes, customizing openings and closing buttons with rubber. In this preliminary study the final result is a prototype of the 3D printed arm splint in a reduced scale by using PLA as material.

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Abbreviations

FEM:

Finite element method

AM:

Additive Manufacturing

PLA:

Poly lactic acid

FDM:

Fused Deposition Manufacturing

CAD:

Computer-Aided Drafting

ABS:

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

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Correspondence to Roberto D’Amato.

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Conflict of Interest

Fernando Blaya declares that she has no conflict of interest. Pilar San Pedro declares that he has no conflict of interest. Julia López Silva declares that he has no conflict of interest. Roberto D’Amato declares that he has no conflict of interest. Enrique Soriano Heras declares that he has no conflict of interest. J. A. Juanes Méndez declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Blaya, F., Pedro, P.S., Silva, J.L. et al. Design of an Orthopedic Product by Using Additive Manufacturing Technology: The Arm Splint. J Med Syst 42, 54 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-018-0909-6

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