High-Precision Three-Dimensional Printing in a Flexible, Low-Cost and Versatile Way: A Review

Background: A low-cost, yet high-functioning, fabrication method for prosthetic components is needed to provide underserved amputee communities with quality mobility devices. Three-dimensional printing is a potential alternative, yet limitations in material characteristics have previously prevented the technology from emerging as a solution. Objective: To validate the application of a novel three-dimensional printing technique as a fabrication method for creating fiber composite patient end-use prosthetic feet. Study design: Experimental designs were iterated upon throughout mechanical testing. Methods: A testing apparatus capable of loading prosthetic feet in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was constructed. Load displacement data were gathered, and energy analyses were conducted. The three-dimensionally printed feet were compared to a Freedom Innovations Renegade® MX carbon fiber foot and a solid-ankle cushion heel foot. Results: The three-dimensionally printed feet achieved energy profiles that were similar, and in some cases preferable, to the energy profiles of the Renegade MX and solid-ankle cushion heel foot. The stiffness profiles of the three-dimensionally printed feet varied widely and depended greatly on the design of the feet, as well as the amount and location of the fiber reinforcement. Conclusion: Composite filament fabrication three-dimensional printing has the potential to serve as a fabrication method for the production of energy returning prosthetic feet. Clinical relevance: The results of this study indicate that carbon fiber reinforced three-dimensionally printed prosthetic feet have the potential to serve as a low-cost alternative to carbon fiber prosthetic feet and that three-dimensional printing has the capacity to function as a viable fabrication method for patient end-use prosthetic components.

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Use of three-dimensional printing for simulation in ultrasound education: a scoping review

BMJ Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning ◽

10.1136/bmjstel-2020-000663 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bmjstel-2020-000663

Author(s):

Patrick Gallagher ◽

Ryan Smith ◽

Gillian Sheppard

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Computer Aided Design ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Imaging Data ◽

Ultrasound Education ◽

Three Dimensional Printing ◽

3D Printed ◽

Dimensional Printing

BackgroundThere is a significant learning curve when teaching ultrasonography to medical trainees; task trainers can help learners to bridge this gap and develop their skills. Three-dimensional printing technology has the potential to be a great tool in the development of such simulators. ObjectiveThis scoping review aimed to identify what 3D-printed models have been used in ultrasound education to date, how they were created and the pros and limitations involved.DesignResearchers searched three online databases to identify 3D-printed ultrasound models used in medical education.ResultsTwelve suitable publications were identified for inclusion in this review. The models from included articles simulated largely low frequency and/or high stakes events, with many models simulating needle guidance procedures. Most models were created by using patient imaging data and a computer-aided design software to print structures directly or print casting molds. The benefits of 3D-printed educational trainers are their low cost, reproducibility, patient specificity and accuracy. The current limitations of this technology are upfront investments and a lack of optimisation of materials.ConclusionsThe use of 3D-printed ultrasound task trainers is in its infancy, and more research is needed to determine whether or not this technology will benefit medical learners in the future.

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Development of Smartphone-Controlled Hand and Arm Exoskeleton for Persons with Disability

Open Engineering ◽

10.1515/eng-2021-0016 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 161-170

Author(s):

J-R. R. Diego ◽

Dan William C. Martinez ◽

Gerald S. Robles ◽

John Ryan C. Dizon

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Prosthetic Device ◽

Three Dimensional Printing ◽

Plastic Materials ◽

3D Printed ◽

Available Technology ◽

Electronic Parts ◽

Dimensional Printing

AbstractThis study addresses the need for assistive technology of people who lost control of their upper limbs as well as people who are undergoing rehabilitation. Loss of upper limb control causes lack of functionality and social acceptability especially for many people in developing countries with fewer available technology. The study develops a modern but low-cost prosthetic device that can be controlled by users using a smartphone and can be rapidly manufactured using three-dimensional printing (3D printing) of plastic materials. The development of the prosthetic device includes designing the mechanical and electronic parts, programming the Arduino board and Android application for control, simulation and analysis of 3D printed parts most subjected to stress, and 3D printing the parts under different settings. The device was tested in terms of time spent and capacity of lifting varying loads when not worn and when worn by users. The device can effectively lift 500 grams of load in one second for a person weighing between 50 to 60 kilograms.

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Affordable Three-Dimensional Printed Heart Models

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine ◽

10.3389/fcvm.2021.642011 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Gorka Gómez-Ciriza ◽

Tomás Gómez-Cía ◽

José Antonio Rivas-González ◽

Mari Nieves Velasco Forte ◽

Israel Valverde

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Medical Training ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Point Of View ◽

Cardiac Device ◽

Three Dimensional Printing ◽

Average Production ◽

Set Up ◽

Dimensional Printing

This is a 7-years single institution study on low-cost cardiac three-dimensional (3D) printing based on the use of free open-source programs and affordable printers and materials. The process of 3D printing is based on several steps (image acquisition, segmentation, mesh optimization, slicing, and three-dimensional printing). The necessary technology and the processes to set up an affordable three-dimensional printing laboratory are hereby described in detail. Their impact on surgical and interventional planning, medical training, communication with patients and relatives, patients' perception on care, and new cardiac device development was analyzed. A total of 138 low-cost heart models were designed and printed from 2013 to 2020. All of them were from different congenital heart disease patients. The average time for segmentation and design of the hearts was 136 min; the average time for printing and cleaning the models was 13.5 h. The average production cost of the models was €85.7 per model. This is the most extensive series of 3D printed cardiac models published to date. In this study, the possibility of manufacturing three-dimensional printed heart models in a low-cost facility fulfilling the highest requirements from a technical and clinical point of view is demonstrated.

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A Novel, Low-cost, Low-fidelity Pericardiocentesis Teaching Model

Western Journal of Emergency Medicine ◽

10.5811/westjem.2021.3.49876 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 931-936

Author(s):

Spencer Lord ◽

Garrett Lord ◽

Sean Geary

Keyword(s):

Clinical Case ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Teaching Model ◽

Ultrasound Guided ◽

Three Dimensional Printing ◽

Model Fidelity ◽

Dimensional Printing ◽

Fidelity Model

Introduction: Pericardiocentesis is a high-risk/low-frequency procedure important to emergency medicine (EM). However, due to case rarity it is not often performed on a patient during residency training. Because the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic limited cadaver-based practice, we developed a novel, low-cost, low-fidelity pericardiocentesis model using three dimensional-printing technology to provide advances on prior home-made models. Methods: Residents watched a 20-minute video about performing a pericardiocentesis and practiced both a blind and ultrasound-guided technique. We assessed model fidelity, convenience, and perceived provider competence via post-workshop questionnaire. Results: A total of 24/26 (93%) individuals practicing on the ultrasound-guided model and 22/24 (92%) on the blind approach model agreed or strongly agreed that the models reasonably mimicked a pericardial effusion. Conclusion: Our low-cost, low-fidelity model is durable, mimics the clinical case, and is easy to use. It also addresses known limitations from prior low-fidelity models.

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Three-dimensional printing of a low-cost, high-fidelity laryngeal dissection station

The Laryngoscope ◽

10.1002/lary.26905 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 128 (4) ◽

pp. 944-947 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sharon K. Maguire ◽

Christopher Razavi ◽

Yunus Sevimli ◽

Lee M. Akst

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

High Fidelity ◽

Three Dimensional Printing ◽

Dimensional Printing

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Three dimensional printing of a low‐cost middle‐ear training model for surgical management of otosclerosis

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology ◽

10.1002/lio2.646 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher Razavi ◽

Deepa Galaiya ◽

Seena Vafaee ◽

Rui Yin ◽

John P. Carey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surgical Management ◽

Middle Ear ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Training Model ◽

Ear Training ◽

Three Dimensional Printing ◽

Dimensional Printing

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Custom design of furniture elements by fused filament fabrication

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part C Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science ◽

10.1177/0954406216646401 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 231 (1) ◽

pp. 88-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Nenad Grujovic ◽

Fatima Zivic ◽

Miroslav Zivkovic ◽

Milan Sljivic ◽

Andreja Radovanovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fused Deposition Modeling ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Wood Industry ◽

Three Dimensional Printing ◽

Modeling Technology ◽

Fused Deposition ◽

Custom Made ◽

Deposition Modeling ◽

Dimensional Printing

Additive manufacturing technologies enable rapid prototyping of different parts, according to the three-dimensional model software solution. This paper presents some aspects of fused deposition modeling technology and its application in the wood industry. The fused deposition modeling technology was initially developed for three-dimensional printing of plastic parts, whereas acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polylactic acid plastics filament are commonly applied. Possibilities for application of different composites with fused deposition modeling in the wood industry are reviewed and presented in this paper. Several industrial applications were considered also, from aspects of material durability, mechanical strength, low cost, and customization. Directions of further research have been discussed, considering graphene and carbon nanotubes as composite reinforcement materials and bio-organic composites with wooden particles or fibers mixed into the polymer matrix. Development of new composites for use with the fused deposition modeling technology is promising area taking into account that new low-cost extruders are already commercially available, as a support to fused deposition modeling device. Three-dimensional printing is very convenient for investigation of different custom-made composite materials, as well as custom shapes of final parts, starting from powders, their mixing, drawing of composite material filament, which are further used for three-dimensional printing with solidification and fabrication of custom-made products. New composites for fused deposition modeling, made of wood and plastic combinations were experimentally investigated for use as functional and customized elements of furniture. Obtained results strongly indicated that both new composite materials and fused deposition modeling printing can be efficiently used for broad customization from aspects of material properties and product shapes, thus enabling low-cost fabrication of small series of complex furniture elements, especially fixtures or clamp tools.

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