Prosthetics are some of the most expensive parts of medical care, and some of the least accessible due to the technology and credentials required for care. I’m Madeleine Bailey and my Senior Capstone is 3D printing prosthetics, aiming to make these more sustainable, and attainable. While making this project I did a lot of research into the current prosthetics market, and how it is both helpful and unhelpful to amputees, or their families.

Hi, My name is Madeleine Bailey, and My Senior Capstone Project is 3D printing Prosthetics. I am focusing on the three problems with the current prosthetic market, and hoping to improve upon all three with 3D printing, scanning, and modeling. Attainability, Sustainability, and Affordability.

The problem: Expensive prosthetics, most prosthetics, are not available to people below the poverty line. Statistically, people in developing countries have higher amputee rates and lower prosthetic availability.

The Solution: remove the expenses, and the lack of prosthetics. 3D printed prosthetics ship easier, and are easier to make. Using 3D scanning technology a model of an arm is made, and adjusted in accordance with the amputated arm.

Currently, prosthetics are not sustainable, with the average lifespan reaching somewhere between three months and five years. For many, repeated replacement of the individual limb isn’t attainable, especially for people below the poverty line, people without healthcare of any kind, and people in developing countries. 3D printing can shorten prosthetic build time to hours instead of the weeks or months it might take normally. Quick print time and cheaper products mean both less waste and also less of a replacement hassle when a prosthetic inevitably gets damaged. The materials used for printing are easier to transport and also easier to attain, despite not necessarily being better for the environment. The materials used, plastics, wires, and other materials, while not cheap, are far more affordable than carbon fiber or high-tech titanium.

Tying back to both sustainability and attainability, Affordability comes full circle and impacts all of the current prosthetic market. Right now company made prosthetics are not affordable to people below the poverty line, not without some kind of luck. Even in countries with consistent healthcare, health insurance rarely covers more than 50% of the fees, and for a prosthetic that can cost, minimum, $5,000, this is unattainable to many.

The inability to get a prosthetic might be workable for some, but for people who need support, either for their job, or for their quality of life, this can impact both a single person and their family greatly.

3D printing prosthetics brings the total make time down by several days at the least, and costs somewhere between two to fifteen dollars to print in total depending on the material used and the size of the print. This, costing significantly less than an average prosthetic, means that consumers and buyers of the product will be able to get an initial print very easily, and also a repeat prosthetic if it were to break or become unusable.

Using Lidar and 3D scanning software I have been able to create 3D prototype models of people, and isolate different parts of them. Isolating, and then manipulating the scan online with 3D Modeling software like Blender allows me to create mock-ups and printables of prosthetic parts.

My Next steps are going to be printing a working arm, and wiring everything together. I aim to be able to have everything put together by March, giving myself some flexible room to move in case something goes wrong.