Abstract

Current prosthetic limbs lack personalization and are inaccessible to underserved communities. They are manufactured by traditional manufacturing methods which are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and do not allow for rapid iteration or customization to meet individual patient needs. On the other hand, 3D printing offers a promising alternative, allowing for customization in prosthetic components. However, without careful optimization of material selection and printing conditions, prosthetic devices may suffer from issues such as shear failure, poor fitness, or reduced comfort, leading to decreased usability and user dissatisfaction. This is why the mechanical design, printing conditions, and material selection are paid attention to as they are factors affecting the functionality of the 3D printed prosthetic limb. This paper discusses the attempt to design an affordable customized 3D printed lower limb prosthetic socket for a 13-year old male user. The key of the paper is that it that has more reduced weight by using G-sheet geroid lattice structure. NTop software is used to optimize the structure of the socket, and assess its 3D printability. Ansys software is used to simulate the cyclic loading, the gait cycle and make sure the socket is mechanically strong and robust.  The prosthetic socket will be made of ASA material and will be later manufactured using German RepRap X1000 FDM 3D printer.

Biography 

Raghad Maraqa: a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at Al Hussein Technical University with huge interest in material science, and 3D printing. Raghad is a certified SOLIDWORKS Associate. She has earned other certifications from SOLIDWORKS in 3D Printing and Simulation.