Pilot study of the wrist orthosis design process
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe a manufacturing methodology for a wrist orthosis. The case study aims to offer new approaches in the area of human orthoses.
Design/methodology/approach
The article describes the utilization of rapid prototyping (RP), passive stereo photogrammetry and software tools for the orthosis design process. This study shows the key points of the design and manufacturing methodology. The approach uses specific technologies, such as 3D digitizing, reverse engineering and polygonal-surface software, FDM RP and 3D printing.
Findings
The results show that the used technologies reflect the patient's requirements and also they could be an alternative solution to the standard method of orthosis design.
Research limitations/implications
The methodology provides a good position for further development issues.
Practical implications
The methodology could be usable for clinical practice and allows the manufacturing of the perfect orthosis of the upper limb. The usage of this methodology depends on the RP system and type of material.
Originality/value
The article describes a particular topical problem and it is following previous publications in the field of human orthoses. The paper presents the methodology of wrist orthosis design and manufacturing. The paper presents an alternative approach applicable in clinical practice.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The work described in this paper was completed in cooperation with the orthotic-prosthetic facility ING Corporation, s.r.o. in Frydek-Mistek and the Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Ostrava and the Institute of Machine and Industrial Design Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. The present work has been supported by European Regional Development Fund in the framework of the research project NETME Centre under the Operational Programme Research and Development for Innovation – NETME Centre, ED0002/01/01, CZ. 1.05/2.1.00/01.0002. All the authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Citation
Palousek, D., Rosicky, J., Koutny, D., Stoklásek, P. and Navrat, T. (2014), "Pilot study of the wrist orthosis design process", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 27-32. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-03-2012-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited