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* https://www.pinterest.com/couragekennyAT/
* https://www.pinterest.com/couragekennyAT/
* https://thisables.com/en/
* https://thisables.com/en/
* https://www.marchofdimes.ca/EN/programs/Designability/Pages/Designability.aspx (making them)


== In the News ==
== In the News ==

Revision as of 00:53, 5 April 2019

3D Printing Adaptive Aids for Arthritis Patients
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Source

Abstract

Adaptive-aid.png

By 2040, more than a quarter of the U.S. population will have diagnosed arthritic conditions. Adults with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions earn less than average yet have medical care expenditures that are over 12% of average household income. Adaptive aids can help arthritis patients continue to maintain independence and quality of life; however, their high costs limit accessibility for older people and the poor. One method used for consumer price reduction is distributed manufacturing with 3-D printers. In order to assess if such a method would be financially beneficial, this study evaluates the techno-economic viability of distributed manufacturing of adaptive aids for arthritis patients. Twenty freely accessible designs for 3-D printable adaptive aids were successfully fabricated on low-cost desktop 3-D printers and performed their functions adequately. The financial savings averaged >94% compared to commercially-available products. Overall, twenty adaptive aids were printed for US$20 of plastic; while on average, each adaptive aid would save over US$20. As printing a tiny subset of the adaptive aids needed by a single patient would recover the full capital and operational costs of a low-cost 3-D printer, it can be concluded that there is considerable potential for distributed manufacturing to assist arthritis patients.

Keywords

distributed manufacturing; additive manufacturing; 3-D printing; consumer; economics; open-source; arthritis; adaptive aid; economics; motor skills; person–environment interaction; cost-effective

Gallery

Click on the hyperlink below the image to download the stl for printing and the CAD for customization.

See also


Other aids

In the News


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