The Effect of Three Dimensional Printing on Prosthetic Limbs

Most of the population takes having working limbs for granted. Around 2 million people need prosthetic limbs to function in their daily life. Patients with prosthetic limbs sometimes have problems with the prosthetic piece either not fitting them or being uncomfortable. The small steps in the prosthetic industry have made some problems go away; three-dimensional printing is a big leap in personalized prosthetics. Three-dimensional printing, a more personal and efficient way to make prosthetic limbs compared to traditional methods, is changing the prosthetic world to make limbs more affordable and personal.

Three-dimensional printing is an ever-changing new method of making objects. As Suberg states, “Even though the rise to popularity happened rather recently, the concept of three-dimensional printing is nothing new. One of the first methods of its kind, so-called stereolithography, was developed in the late 1970s” (2). There are many types of three-dimensional printers, ranging from the 1970s until now. An object that is three-dimensional printed is usually very intricate because the printer starts from the bottom of the object using small pieces of plastic to mend the object together. The object being printed has a blueprint; blueprints can range from simple design patterns to intricate patterns.

A prosthetic limb is a replacement for a normal limb. The goal, after getting a prosthetic limb, is for the person to use it like a completely normal limb. Another goal for doctors who make prosthetics is to make the limb feel like it was before. A professional in the field states, “The ultimate goal: to create prosthetics that interact with the body, tapping directly into the brain’s desires and sending back progress reports” (Sataline 2). The goal for making prosthetics like a normally functioning limb is ever-changing.

In truth, there are so many different people that are in need of a prosthetic limb. It is common knowledge that some veterans need prosthetic limbs. Veterans can lose a limb directly in combat or over time as a past injury advances. Traumatic injuries like car accidents are also another way that people lose limbs. There are also people with long-term health conditions that lose limbs like cancer or diabetes. Lastly, some people are just born without a limb. All of these people have varying heights, weights, and ages. Three-dimensional printing is more personal because of the custom blueprint and custom parts that are printed.

In fact, the traditional way that prosthetic limbs are made takes 6 months. This process starts off with measurements that take around 2 weeks. After that, the measurements are transferred to a lab where the artificial limbs are made. The limb is tested for the correct weights on the person. After that, the limb goes back into the lab for more tweaking. There are more smaller, individualized details that also go into this process. Three-dimensional printing can shorten this process and make it more efficient. Prosthetics aren’t that cost-efficient; because “kids grow quickly… they sometimes need two or three [prosthetic pieces] a year” (Schutzman 3). Knowing this, three-dimensional printing can make the process of getting a new limb even faster so it will adapt to the ever-changing children’s bodies.
For example, prosthetic limbs are also a greatly needed resource in third-world countries. These countries lack the advanced technology necessary for providing accessibility to prosthetic limbs. In war zones, limbs are lost due to various factors, whether it’s on the battlefield or post-combat. In the book “Not Impossible,” Mick Ebeling highlights how a group travelled to an active warzone to create prosthetic limbs for children, using three-dimensional printing. The author, Mick, states, “I wanted to explore three-dimensional printing in a special way. I had heard about the possibility of creating new prosthetic arms, not through normal medical channels, but in a very do-it-yourself, off-the-shelf, three-dimensional printer” (Ebeling 2). This novel emphasizes the simplicity of creating three-dimensional limbs. The individuals featured in the book helped countless people in third-world countries using just a basic three-dimensional printer. They proved that a fully functional limb can be produced with a three-dimensional printer. Given this conclusion, more advanced technology can be incorporated into three-dimensional printing.

Innovative designs for three-dimensional limbs also come with the advantage of three-dimensional printing. An application of a three-dimensional printer is to create custom designs. Merging the fields of art and medicine has significant mental and physical effects. For instance, a young child who adores flower designs and is also in need of a limb can receive a custom design if the limb is printed three-dimensionally. These designs allow individuals to feel more themselves via personal designs. The traditional way of making a limb does not focus on aesthetics, but rather functionality. However, using the design aspect of three-dimensional printers allows limbs to reflect the person.

The typical cost of a prosthetic “can range anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000. But even the most expensive prosthetic limbs are built to withstand only three to five years of wear and tear, meaning they will need to be replaced over the course of a lifetime, and they’re not a one-time cost” (Mohoney 1). As the cost of an adult prosthetic fluctuates based on the limb’s build, three-dimensional printing can support the build due to its lasting durability. Three-dimensional printers are exceptionally accurate in creating blueprints of models. The cost of three-dimensional printing is cheaper and with the right materials, both the cost and function will be superior compared to a conventionally made limb.

Jobs in the three-dimensional printing industry are on the rise. Engineers, medical professionals, artists, and medical technicians are just a few of the roles that are extremely beneficial in the prosthetic industry. Most prosthetic pieces are made in a lab with specific checkpoints in the process of making the limbs. If the creation process is based on an organized computer blueprint, the limbs can be made more efficiently. In the article “10 Three-Dimensional Printing Jobs on the Rise,” it mentions that “three-dimensional printing would not be possible without CAD experts, who have the skills and expertise to convert product designs into digital blueprints that three-dimensional printers need. Along with product designers, there will be a demand for three-dimensional CAD modelers”( Angeles). Designing blueprints for three-dimensional printing is a very detail-oriented job. CAD designers have been in high demand in recent years due to advancements in three-dimensional printing, specifically in prosthetic limb creation.
In conclusion, there are many effects of three-dimensional printing on the prosthetics industry. As three-dimensional printing arises, there are so many possibilities for new technology that will be beneficial to any type of industry. “Slowly but surely, three-dimensional printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has been revolutionizing aspects of medicine since the start of the century, just as it has had an impact on so many other industries, from cars to clothing” (Birrel 1). The advances in three-dimensional printing are revolutionizing the world slowly but surely. So, get to printing!

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