Development of 3D Printed Low-Cost Individualized Actuated Upper Limb Prostheses

The aim of this study was to design and verify in practice a low-cost mechatronic actuated prosthetic device for the upper limb. First, a mechanical prosthesis was built for a test patient – an 40-year male patient with transradial amputation. Automated design methods were applied, using the AutoMedPrint technology. Then, the prosthesis was converted into an actuated, mechatronic device. Two design variants were proposed – the first one with a DC motor and a servo and the second one with two servo mechanisms. They were 3D printed using low-cost printers, assembled – using cheap, widely available electronics, programmed and verified. With participation of experts, a survey was made and the prostheses were evaluated. It was concluded that this research direction is a promising one. It is possible to build functional, actuated prostheses by a fraction of a price of the advanced, commercial bionic solutions, yet they still need further development, functional improvements and tests with patients.