We all know that 3D printing is going to change our world. There are already plenty of awesome 3D printers you can play around with to bring your ideas to life. You can print a whole lot more than just silly objects with 3D printers though. Dr Abby Paterson, a Loughborough University lecturer, happens to have developed a piece of software to enable clinicians to design and make custom-made 3D printed wrist splints. This could be quite helpful for arthritis sufferers.
I wanted to give clinicians the ability to make splints they have not been able to make before. They can improve the aesthetics, the fit, and integrate extra bits of functionality they couldn’t do before as a result of our Additive Manufacturing facilities here at Loughborough University. Thanks to our Objet Connex machine, we can integrate multiple materials in a single splint such as rubber-like integral hinges or cushioning features but, more importantly, the specialised software prototype we’ve developed will enable clinicians to design these splints for their patients.
These 3D printed splints are comfortable and attractive. They are also cheaper to make. Pretty exciting, isn’t it?
[Source: Science Daily]
