3D printing - response
Lemaire, Ed
Description
Collection
Title:
3D printing - response
Creator:
Lemaire, Ed
Date:
6/29/2016
Text:
3d-printing, or additive manufacturing, will continue to be in the news since it is cool technology that brings machining-manufacturing abilities to the masses. However, the road to direct competition with current manufacturing approaches in P&O may be longer than you think. Here are some items to consider:
1) 3D printers relate to the technical craft, not the clinical. If clinicians continue to evolve and maintain the ability to make appropriate decisions that optimize function and comfort, this technology will be an advantage
a. The same comments were made in the early 1990's when CAD/CAM first came into P&O. The time will come when machines can make the correct decisions, but by then surgeons will also be replaced by robots.
2) Current consumer 3D-printers replace well-constructed devices with cheap plastic models. Even with higher end 3D-printers using new materials, problems persist in end-product quality when subjected to a range of peak and cyclic loading scenarios ... as compared with parts produced using other manufacturing methods that can accommodate these loads
3) The time to 3D-print parts is still relatively long, but becoming reasonable for a few devices a day.
4) The cost of materials is always relatively low, and this is the price that keeps being mentioned in the media. In engineering teaching and research circles, I make the comment that this works well if you believe that engineers should not be paid for their work. A volunteer revolution in rehab would affect all disciplines, not just P&O. I would like to see media people asking these questions, including the lack of regulatory approval, legal implications for device failure, etc.
5) While one-off devices can be produced in developing countries, this may not be the most economically beneficial way to fit the 10's of thousands of people requiring P&O care around the world. For example, an order of 5,000-10,000 well constructed prosthetic hands from China may cost about the same, or less, than the materials to make a cheap plastic hand. You have to ship the plastic anyway so shipping costs cancel out.
6) Current 3D-printing projects and open-source initiatives are good since children can get fun-colorful devices to play with, and these can be made by a loving family member. It is also good to expose students from a variety of fields about prosthetics and orthotics, but the loop needs to be close as to where these devices fit into the P&O technology ecosystem.
7) The big advance from additive manufacturing will come from the ability to create devices that cannot be produced using current manufacturing methods. But to take advantage of this, the prosthetist and orthotist must evolve their skills beyond cast modification and lamination/plastic draping. Also, personal customization that includes sizing but also cosmetic factors must be considered ... as already appearing in the market.
8) Other than upper extremity devices, I would expect spinal orthoses to be a possible area for 3D-printing to evolve. Loads are reasonably small (i.e., compared to lower limb gait) and potential exist to print devices with variable flexibility and airflow that would be difficult or time-inefficient to produce another way. Need a large printer ...
That is all for now.
Ed
Edward Lemaire, PhD
The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre, Centre for Rehabilitation Research and Development
Professor, U. Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine
Board member, ISPO
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre
505 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1H 8M2
(613) 737-8899 x75592
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1) 3D printers relate to the technical craft, not the clinical. If clinicians continue to evolve and maintain the ability to make appropriate decisions that optimize function and comfort, this technology will be an advantage
a. The same comments were made in the early 1990's when CAD/CAM first came into P&O. The time will come when machines can make the correct decisions, but by then surgeons will also be replaced by robots.
2) Current consumer 3D-printers replace well-constructed devices with cheap plastic models. Even with higher end 3D-printers using new materials, problems persist in end-product quality when subjected to a range of peak and cyclic loading scenarios ... as compared with parts produced using other manufacturing methods that can accommodate these loads
3) The time to 3D-print parts is still relatively long, but becoming reasonable for a few devices a day.
4) The cost of materials is always relatively low, and this is the price that keeps being mentioned in the media. In engineering teaching and research circles, I make the comment that this works well if you believe that engineers should not be paid for their work. A volunteer revolution in rehab would affect all disciplines, not just P&O. I would like to see media people asking these questions, including the lack of regulatory approval, legal implications for device failure, etc.
5) While one-off devices can be produced in developing countries, this may not be the most economically beneficial way to fit the 10's of thousands of people requiring P&O care around the world. For example, an order of 5,000-10,000 well constructed prosthetic hands from China may cost about the same, or less, than the materials to make a cheap plastic hand. You have to ship the plastic anyway so shipping costs cancel out.
6) Current 3D-printing projects and open-source initiatives are good since children can get fun-colorful devices to play with, and these can be made by a loving family member. It is also good to expose students from a variety of fields about prosthetics and orthotics, but the loop needs to be close as to where these devices fit into the P&O technology ecosystem.
7) The big advance from additive manufacturing will come from the ability to create devices that cannot be produced using current manufacturing methods. But to take advantage of this, the prosthetist and orthotist must evolve their skills beyond cast modification and lamination/plastic draping. Also, personal customization that includes sizing but also cosmetic factors must be considered ... as already appearing in the market.
8) Other than upper extremity devices, I would expect spinal orthoses to be a possible area for 3D-printing to evolve. Loads are reasonably small (i.e., compared to lower limb gait) and potential exist to print devices with variable flexibility and airflow that would be difficult or time-inefficient to produce another way. Need a large printer ...
That is all for now.
Ed
Edward Lemaire, PhD
The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre, Centre for Rehabilitation Research and Development
Professor, U. Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine
Board member, ISPO
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre
505 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1H 8M2
(613) 737-8899 x75592
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Confidentiality Statement - The contents of this e-mail, including its attachment, are intended for the exclusive use of the recipient and may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are strictly prohibited from reading, using, disclosing, copying, or distributing this e-mail or any of its contents. If you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail immediately or the Privacy Office ( <Email Address Redacted> ) and permanently delete this e-mail and its attachments, along with any copies thereof. Thank you.
Avis de confidentialité – Ce courriel, y compris ses pièces jointes, s’adresse au destinataire uniquement et pourrait contenir des renseignements confidentiels. Si vous n’êtes pas le bon destinataire, il est strictement interdit de lire, d’utiliser, de divulguer, de copier ou de diffuser ce courriel ou son contenu, en partie ou en entier. Si vous avez reçu ce courriel par erreur, veuillez en informer immédiatement l’expéditeur ou le bureau de la Protection des renseignements personnels ( <Email Address Redacted> ), puis effacez le courriel ainsi que les pièces jointes et toute autre copie. Merci.
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Citation
Lemaire, Ed, “3D printing - response,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 1, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/242228.
