CAD/CAM Research & RESOURCE pages

Including:

Digital manipulation of prosthesis data for the introduction of advanced manufacturing techniques

Currently at REHABTech a proces is being developed to investigate different manufacturing options for  trans-tibial prostheses using CAD/CAM. By digitizing the shape of the amputees residual limb and normal leg it is possible to merge them both to one CAD model. This information can then be used for the manufacture of foam covers and exoskeletal prostheses or the investigation of other more advanced manufacturing technologies. By having the ability to investigate other manufacturing technologies it is anticipated that better materials and techniques will be more accessible to the prosthetic profession. Modification of the model can be performed so stresses will be decreased and holes etc. can be added.

Process described in more detail

Resource page  - Downloads
(presentations, software, reports)

Links

Discussion

Acknowledgement

This project tries to contribute to the development of new processes for designing and manufacturing prostheses, that are beneficial for both prosthetists and patients.
The demands that have to be made upon these processes and the resulting prostheses are therefore:

Process of designing and manufacturing

• Fast
• Easy to learn and userfriendly
• Low costs
• Easy to repeat
• Ease to apply modifications on design

Prosthesis

• Reliable, high endurance
• Low costs
• Lightweight

When this project is finished it is anticipated that the following useful results lay the foundation of future developments:

• A userfriendly, easy to learn, fast and precise process that can be used by prosthetists for designing prostheses for trans-tibial amputees that prefer exoskeletal prostheses
• A stress-analysis method to be used on trans-tibial prostheses made of different (better) materials

Also more effort can be put into the development of other aspects of prostheses (endoskeletal or exoskeletal, one or more parts, variable alignment or not). All of this depends on how well the making of a prosthesis comes up to the demands that have been set above. For example, why use alignable components in a final design if it is less expensive to manufacture a new prosthesis without these components in it?
 
 

Any questions, comments or information requests about this project can be send by email.  We will try to respond as adequate as possible. If you do not want any of your relevant questions or comments to be published in our discussion list, please mention it in your email.