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Pilot Study Investigating The Use Of 3d Printing In Designing Upper-Extremity Prosthetics For Children: A Progress Report, Lauren Long, Christina Salas, Deana M. Mercer, Selina R. Silva, Jared Knigge

UNM Orthopaedic Research Journal

The availability and cost-effectiveness of functional prototypes and designs has increased considerably over the last decade because of 3D printing. The growing field of biomedical engineering is expanding on 3D-printing technology to make low-cost, upper-extremity prosthetics. This pilot study reports on the potential use of 3D printing for low-cost, upper-extremity prosthetics, specifically prosthetic hands for children. We start by characterizing existing open-source, 3D-printed upper-extremity prosthetics to determine their mechanical strength, statically and dynamically. Based on outcomes from these early tests, we optimize the existing designs to develop a new prosthetic. The prosthetic design, fabricated in The University of New Mexico …