<p><b>Abstract</b>—Recent trends in
the field of prosthetic technology are shifting towards all-digital approaches.
These digital technologies have the potential to augment the current models of
clinical healthcare and reach more amputees than currently possible.
Unfortunately, most of the equipment needed to design and build digitally
shaped prostheses is expensive or requires a high level of expertise. <b>Objective:</b>
This paper developed several methods to enable the digital fabrication of
prostheses using only low cost tools that do not require extensive specialized training.
<b>Methods:</b> The authors built a cell phone application in Android Studio
that enables automated collection of image data which can be rendered into
accurate 3D-models using photogrammetry on a remote server. They then developed
a new protocol to shape these residual limb models into functional prosthetic
sockets using the freely available software Autodesk Meshmixer. <b>Results:</b>
Finally, the authors ran a case study where they rectified a prosthetic socket for
an amputee and compared this model to a socket built by a clinician. <b>Conclusion:</b>
This case study showed that these new methods can successfully create accurate
and functional prosthetic sockets. <b>Significance:</b> By leveraging
ubiquitous low cost smartphone technology, the authors believe that amputees in
underserved areas, who currently face large barriers both in cost and physical
access to proper care, could soon be able to obtain affordable prosthetic limbs.</p><br>
Additive manufacturing is one of the most promising emerging technologies for building prosthetic sockets. However, there is no reliable way to estimate the factor of safety and the lifetime of 3D printed prosthetic sockets. Here, we explore 360° 3D digital image correlation (DIC) and discover how this new tool can increase our understanding of prosthetic structural failures. We establish that this new technology can dramatically improve the prosthetic design cycle by identifying local strain concentrations and by highlighting limitations in current simulated models. Overall, 360° 3D DIC technology empowers prosthetic engineers to characterize the performance of new materials and create innovative designs that are both safe and affordable.
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