Queen's University Students Develop 3D Printed Prosthetics for Amputees
Students from Queen's University, in collaboration with the Burma Children Medical Fund, are developing accessible 3D printed prosthetics for above-elbow amputees, focusing on functional designs for resource-limited regions.
Students at Queen's University, particularly members of the Queen's Biomedical Innovation Team (QBiT), are advancing the design of 3D printed prosthetics. Their work stems from a long-standing partnership with the Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), an NGO that supports underserved communities with surgical treatment.
BCMF initiated a 3D prosthesis project in 2019, and Queen's University faculty and students have since established a recurring collaboration. Emese Elkind, a biomedical computing student, has led a team of engineering students in creating a harness system for above-elbow amputees. This system is designed to enable independent movement of the elbow and individual fingers without relying on complex robotics or electronics, making it suitable for maintenance in areas with limited resources like Burma and Thailand.
The team's innovative design has garnered recognition and awards at North American engineering competitions. They have utilized prize money to support BCMF's initiatives, including translation services, surgeries, and access to professional design software. Elkind emphasized that the experience has redefined her perspective on engineering, highlighting its role in addressing real-world problems.
In related healthcare advancements, CureWith3D, an India-based company, is enhancing its patient-specific healthcare offerings. The company specializes in 3D printing and digital surgical planning, providing custom 3D printed implants, surgical guides, and anatomical models, alongside Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) services. They collaborate with various surgical specialties, including craniofacial, oncology, and orthopedic surgeons, to develop tailored solutions for complex cases.
CureWith3D leverages engineering expertise, radiological imaging, and additive manufacturing to create tools for pre-operative planning and patient-specific implants. Their VSP services allow surgeons to simulate surgical outcomes and finalize designs prior to the procedure, contributing to improved precision and patient outcomes in personalized medicine.
This development showcases the growing impact of 3D printing in prosthetics and surgical planning, particularly for underserved populations. The focus on accessible, maintainable designs for prosthetics highlights additive manufacturing's potential to democratize advanced healthcare solutions. Similarly, CureWith3D's work on patient-specific implants and VSP demonstrates AM's critical role in advancing personalized medicine and improving surgical precision.
Edited by the news editor with AI from the original report — please refer to the original source.