Design of 3D printed Transradial upper limb prosthetic

Working as the Project Manager I got the opportunity to understand the role and difficulties in leading a team to success. I created Project charter, scope, fixed timelines and scheduled meetings.

The project work was monitored weekly twice and reported on a weekly basis to stakeholders. I also organized and motivated my team for success, at the same time ensure customer satisfaction from e-NABLE.

Project Overview

The goal of this project was to design a pre-prosthetic forearm and hand to be used for amputees during their post-operative rehabilitation. The idea was to create a wrist piece that can house different hand attachments to perform various tasks. 

The project was carried out by undergraduate students from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The project consisted of various design activities that follows the biodesign process. The intended outcome was to create completed CAD files that can be 3D printed by anyone and resized for various patients, as well as a final 3D printed prosthetic.

Business Case

Upper limb amputees go through a period of rehabilitation after their operation. This rehab period is crucial to ensure the residual limb does not lose movement or muscle mass. After the amputee is fitted for a prosthetic, there is a turn around time of months before they receive their final prosthetic. Pre-prosthetic serve as interim or “practice” prosthetic for the patient to use during their rehab. Currently, many pre-prosthetics are made from crude materials like wood or wire. A 3D printed pre-prosthetic would be an affordable, lightweight option for patients to use.

Project Team

Eight undergraduate students signed up to work on this project. All members contributed in defining the problem, requirements and concept development. Students with CAD skills and knowledge of anatomy and rehabilitation techniques was especially helpful with this project.