Avoiding Product Abandonment Through User Centered Design: A Case Study Involving the Development of a 3D Printed Customized Upper Limb Prosthesis

Abstract

This study reports on experiences with a user centered design approach for the development of a customized mechanical transradial prosthesis for a patient who were unable to adapt to a standard prosthesis. The development process explored the needs, preferences and expectations of the user, as well as physical and functional aspects. The production process was based on 3D printing technologies, with emphasis on originality and customization. During the design process, the user participated in the design and evaluation phases through practical handling tests. The results indicated that the participation of the user in the design process using a user-centered design approach lead to a customized product that matched the user's preferences. This acceptance and satisfaction with the product help minimize the risk of product abandonment.

A Personalized 3D-Printed Hand Prosthesis for Early Intervention in Children With Congenital Below-Elbow Deficiency: User-Centered Design Case Study

“…In the field of prosthetics, earlier investigations have reported the successful use of the UCD approach to find out the prosthesis' context of use and requirements through surveys [27], questionnaires [28], interviews [29], and workshops [30]. Furthermore, Dimitrov et al [31] and Fligliola et al [32] developed upper limb prosthetic hands using a UCD approach. The results indicated that these prototypes are more appealing to the recipients.…”

Experiences Using Three App Prototyping Tools with Different Levels of Fidelity from a Product Design Student’s Perspective

“…This study explored three prototyping tools with different levels of fidelity [5], namely Adobe XD, Figma and React Native. The experiences with the tool is documented with a product design student who is well trained in design-thinking and prototyping of physical objects using rapid prototyping and 3D printing [6,7,8,9], and basic experience with software development and interface prototyping.…”