The progress in 3D printed prosthetics is truly making a difference. I used an FLSUN V400 to print custom hand parts for a friend who needed high strength and precision. It was incredibly rewarding to see how a simple 3D printer could improve someone’s life.
My daughter is 12 and a LBK amputee. She's a high level athlete and a national record holder in Track & Field. This market NEEDS to adapt. I've been wanting to poke at this for a while, and I think it's time to really dive in. Thank you for exposure for this market.
i think there was a orginization in giving protheses i might look soon for the name. and maybe a fun parent and daughter idea to learn to build a diy prothese until a one more affordable is out
I am a below the knee amputee who is studying bio mechanical engineering to make better prosthesis for all. The last 4 years I have R&Ded a foot to be 3D printed using FDM. I tested the most common materials like PLA, ABS & PETG. My data shows viability in FDM, however more testing is needed to find the limits of the design and manufacturing choice. When I am done I plan to do exactly what was said in the video. Make prosthetics more accessible though 3D printing.
Visit your local VA or hospital. A few hoops but worth. They can use your help. Also look up 3d print for kids in need. We can make a lot of toys for kids that are in need.
@patricklehigh9019 I do some toys for local places. I have a different business that I got into 3d printing to solve a problem for and it's become a passion lol
My aunt lost part of her leg before I was born and I have seen the changes in the prosthetic limbs over time. When she got her most recent prosthetic it was a little like seeing her get a new car, she was showing off all the new features that she never had access to in previous leg replacements. Thanks for raising awareness to the problem!
This is timely. I've spent the last couple days working on custom orthotic insoles for myself. My left foot is over 3 sizes smaller than my right, and also over 1/2 inch shorter. I usually just wear two of the bigger shoes and deal with the ensuing problems, but I finally was able to scan my foot and use a shoe last template to build an insole that a) lifts my heel by that half inch and b) builds up the toe area so that it takes up the space of the larger size shoe without letting my foot slide forward much. All done in TPU and uses various wall loop and infill modifiers to customize the feel and response. Something I've wanted my whole life but was unable to find. Then I thought "hmmm maybe I should parametrize this "shoe size adapter" and sell it. there have to be enough people with similar issues, enough to warrant spending a day or two on product development and spinning up a quick ecom site.
Some of the higher end brands will sell you different size shoes\boots at the same price. I'm pretty sure redwings will do that. They have nice sport shoes as well and their stuff lasts
And also over time my left toe caps always end up pushed in and deformed because there's nothing in that space pushing back out, so this should be much better for the life and aesthetics of the shoe.
The challenge isn't a shortage of customers per se, but that most of them are being serviced through physicians or specialists and paid for by insurance, so you either have to convince medical specialists to use your service, and bill the insurance companies, or have someone in-house qualified to interface with patients concerning a medical treatment, and in-house billing of insurance. You may be undervaluing the interfacing aspect of the business, the printing isn't really the primary expense.
@@slant3d There's a startup that had the goal of making 3D printed prosthetics, they got to the point of nearly being able to go to production when they realised they had just about 0 customers. Partially informed by the fact that they communicated with patient organizations and hired a designer who uses a prosthetic hand. They had to pivot and instead of focusing on making cheap prosthetics they focused on other details; that I forgot cause the video is several years old now. The main problem they had wasn't only that most people would be going through healthcare, which only costs an arm and a leg in exactly one industrialized country btw. But simply the fact that people rather spend 10 times the money for a prosthetic than having a slight chance of said prosthetic failing on them. It's not the same as a shoe breaking, or a glove tearing, it's more fundamentally *you* . Having a kids prosthetic breaking on them would result in putting their disability on full display, potentially in front of their whole school, and literally making them *feel* disabled in a way that hopping on one foot because your shoe broke on you can't even describe. That's not to say that 3D printing itself cannot be part of the solution, it still is for that company I believe. But lowering costs won't be enough to get someone to want a 3D printed prosthetic. If anything, you'd be better off focusing on high comfort, high individuality (which already exists in regular prosthetics but could be made cheaper with 3D printing), and using filaments that won't break or deform like PEEK or Tullomer.
@@crawkn I believe that the point he's making is that, once you get to a cost where the market can go to a "Wearable/fashion" industry and not a healthcare industry. At that point, as you'd buy a $50-150 shoe, a $30 hook to help you carry your groceries (there are those for non-amputees) or a $75 specific item for your sport/hobby/trade, having those prosthetics outside of the healthcare system is doable.
This is amazing! My first project was a wheel for a dog that lost a leg. I have a similar idea to resolve an issue my friend has with injury to his arm. Appreciate your efforts to improve the 3D printing community by sharing your knowledge and experience!
First idea that springs to mind: Have it so that the wheel works like a seatbelt - quick acceleration causes it to lock up. This way your dog can have some compliance when moving slowly and jump or sprint on a whim! 😍
My idea I've had for about a year is Crocs for nubs. My daughter will walk around on her residual limb which can make it sore over time (She does have the heal pad over the end of her tibia to be weight bearing). But imaging a Croc shoe that is vertical, and the strap is what you use to pull it up over the stump. Like a stump slipper. I've been wanting to try one out of some soft TPU for proof of concept.
I wonder if you have corresponded with any of the notable prosthetics users who post regularly on TH-cam? Martina from NerdForge designed and 3D-printed her prosthetic finger after she lost one (left pinky) in a table saw accident. Footless Jo is left below the knee amputated (result of a horse riding accident when she was young) and she has expressed some frustration with the available feet for her prosthetic, so she might be a particularly good fit for what you have in mind. Maybe some of these prosthetics-using TH-camrs can spread the word for the kind of service you have in mind.
Product Engineer at a Prosthetics company: lots of thoughts on this, probably too many to list in a single comment. The main challenge i see (daily...) isnt so much the prosthetic device, but the socket fit and alignment. Sockets need to be custom fit to each patient, taking into account the the device they plan to use so that attachment points can be aligned properly. While there is some adjustment that can be done, there are many cases we see where a new socket is needed in order to address alignment/fit issues before our device will operate as intended. (Im focusing on lower limb). Our company does actually sell many products (feet) in the $100-500 range, making 3D printing a little more difficult to justify - the big cost is in that socket and componentry mentioned above. Oh, and regulatory testing. We test every product to specific ISO standards to ensure the product is safe. Lower limb prosthetics failing can be a very dangerous situation. Lastly, we use 3D printing daily to prototype parts, fit check ideas, and make jigs and fixtures used for assembly (that last one has been a game changer!)
Friend of mine asked me to make a TPU front dog leg for a full size dog 🐕. I’m not quite sure how this will work but we are going to try it and take it from there
The one off adaptability of 3d printing has always seemed like a good fit with prosthetics. Imagine an amputee walking around with a backpack or a car trunk full of hands or feet for various circumstances.
I helped build some of those hands where they move through wrist and the fingers grip. Some cool tech behind it. I’d love to get involved and help out printing!
“Economies of scale” is a term used for the idea of how a business or process becomes more efficient and viable as the size of operations increases. Slant 3d is clearly familiar with this I just wanted to share the name/term for this idea that I know it as
Do you have resources for reducing filament usage while maintaining strength? I want to use the plug in but it’s quite expensive for my item. I gotta be price competitive
I am very happy with my foot at the moment, but the socket needs some work - guessing that is what the prosthetic guy is for? New to this world but learning quickly - great topic!
What's the legal side of this, don't prostethics needs some expensive certifications? AFAIK, things like wheelchairs are expensive because they need every nut and bolt traced back to the factory etc, in case something goes wrong, how would that work with 3D-printed prostethics?
Interestingly, the fastest humans are dual below the knee amputees. Their running prostheses with longer lower legs and carbon fiber leaf springs allow them to run faster than "able bodied" athletes. The Paralympic runners are faster than the Olympic runners.
If someone needs all of these prosthetic attachments why wouldn’t they just get their own 3D printer and print it themselves. One printer is cheaper then 3 or 5 200$ attachments.
Please, please, please watch the video posted 5 days ago by Geek Detour! He made a video on the "legality" of printing using "brick layers" in order to significantly improve the strength of 3D printed parts along layer lines. Probably going to need a legal team to look into it, but if this is something that you could implement into your slicer, I think this could be a major game changer. The title of the video as of the time of this comment is "Brick Layers: Stronger 3D Prints TODAY - instead of 2040 😬". This would create stronger 3D printed products that further closes the gap between 3D printing and injection molding making a 3D printing an even more attractive option for mass production.
there is a market! the issue is that every person needs their own specialized prosthetic, maybe we are both missing the same amount of arm but i cant activate a nerve so i have to get a different prosthetic that will work for me
@@slant3d yeah you still gotta have a designer make it specialized for each person, most 3d printer people like just printing the same type of object, having to design something for every patient is a lot of work. it could still take weeks or months of designing even with 3d printing
@@sandingothat might be how things are now, but engineers and software engineers spending time on a niche like this would definitely improve it. Where things are at is not the same as where they could be. I say this as a Software Engineer who has built all kinds of products over the years.
Somewhat underestimating the level of complexity of the actual attachment to the limb that is not all equal with amputees. The cost you stated for prosthetics are the initial stage of the design, fitting and materials etc for each individual, not the appendage that is attached to it. Granted more research and design is welcome at all stages, but please don’t imply you are capable of reducing this initial cost from thousands to $40 or so as that’s clearly untrue and disingenuous to say at the least. A bit more research would have been more appropriate on the subject.
A place like Ukraine may be a good start for getting prosthetics off the ground. A good chunk of the problem is the need for individualized customization which 3D printing is ideal for but there is still the human component of taking in the specific needs, designing and delivery. With soldiers and civilians in Ukraine missing limbs, there is a market in a centralized place so it may be a good place to start and come up with a more streamlined approach than there is currently that can then be applied in other places as well.
"Been working on this for a long time" LMFAO! Dude, 3D printers have only been around just over a decade. "A long time"? Give me a break! Even by technology standards, this is still all REALLY brand new! It's barely got it's shine off!
The progress in 3D printed prosthetics is truly making a difference. I used an FLSUN V400 to print custom hand parts for a friend who needed high strength and precision. It was incredibly rewarding to see how a simple 3D printer could improve someone’s life.
My daughter is 12 and a LBK amputee. She's a high level athlete and a national record holder in Track & Field. This market NEEDS to adapt. I've been wanting to poke at this for a while, and I think it's time to really dive in.
Thank you for exposure for this market.
Do it!
i think there was a orginization in giving protheses i might look soon for the name. and maybe a fun parent and daughter idea to learn to build a diy prothese until a
one more affordable is out
I am a below the knee amputee who is studying bio mechanical engineering to make better prosthesis for all. The last 4 years I have R&Ded a foot to be 3D printed using FDM. I tested the most common materials like PLA, ABS & PETG. My data shows viability in FDM, however more testing is needed to find the limits of the design and manufacturing choice. When I am done I plan to do exactly what was said in the video. Make prosthetics more accessible though 3D printing.
If anyone has the design and need. I will print it for free if i can. Any material.
Visit your local VA or hospital. A few hoops but worth. They can use your help.
Also look up 3d print for kids in need. We can make a lot of toys for kids that are in need.
@patricklehigh9019 I do some toys for local places. I have a different business that I got into 3d printing to solve a problem for and it's become a passion lol
I would like to take these concepts and technology to kids in Gaza and Syria who are missing limbs - if interested in helping?
THIS. Do more of THIS.
Think of the free marketing this would bring you.
My aunt lost part of her leg before I was born and I have seen the changes in the prosthetic limbs over time. When she got her most recent prosthetic it was a little like seeing her get a new car, she was showing off all the new features that she never had access to in previous leg replacements.
Thanks for raising awareness to the problem!
This is timely. I've spent the last couple days working on custom orthotic insoles for myself. My left foot is over 3 sizes smaller than my right, and also over 1/2 inch shorter. I usually just wear two of the bigger shoes and deal with the ensuing problems, but I finally was able to scan my foot and use a shoe last template to build an insole that a) lifts my heel by that half inch and b) builds up the toe area so that it takes up the space of the larger size shoe without letting my foot slide forward much. All done in TPU and uses various wall loop and infill modifiers to customize the feel and response. Something I've wanted my whole life but was unable to find. Then I thought "hmmm maybe I should parametrize this "shoe size adapter" and sell it. there have to be enough people with similar issues, enough to warrant spending a day or two on product development and spinning up a quick ecom site.
Some of the higher end brands will sell you different size shoes\boots at the same price. I'm pretty sure redwings will do that. They have nice sport shoes as well and their stuff lasts
And also over time my left toe caps always end up pushed in and deformed because there's nothing in that space pushing back out, so this should be much better for the life and aesthetics of the shoe.
Great idea!!
The challenge isn't a shortage of customers per se, but that most of them are being serviced through physicians or specialists and paid for by insurance, so you either have to convince medical specialists to use your service, and bill the insurance companies, or have someone in-house qualified to interface with patients concerning a medical treatment, and in-house billing of insurance. You may be undervaluing the interfacing aspect of the business, the printing isn't really the primary expense.
$25 per hand
@slant3d what is?
@@slant3d There's a startup that had the goal of making 3D printed prosthetics, they got to the point of nearly being able to go to production when they realised they had just about 0 customers. Partially informed by the fact that they communicated with patient organizations and hired a designer who uses a prosthetic hand. They had to pivot and instead of focusing on making cheap prosthetics they focused on other details; that I forgot cause the video is several years old now.
The main problem they had wasn't only that most people would be going through healthcare, which only costs an arm and a leg in exactly one industrialized country btw. But simply the fact that people rather spend 10 times the money for a prosthetic than having a slight chance of said prosthetic failing on them.
It's not the same as a shoe breaking, or a glove tearing, it's more fundamentally *you* . Having a kids prosthetic breaking on them would result in putting their disability on full display, potentially in front of their whole school, and literally making them *feel* disabled in a way that hopping on one foot because your shoe broke on you can't even describe.
That's not to say that 3D printing itself cannot be part of the solution, it still is for that company I believe. But lowering costs won't be enough to get someone to want a 3D printed prosthetic. If anything, you'd be better off focusing on high comfort, high individuality (which already exists in regular prosthetics but could be made cheaper with 3D printing), and using filaments that won't break or deform like PEEK or Tullomer.
@@crawkn I believe that the point he's making is that, once you get to a cost where the market can go to a "Wearable/fashion" industry and not a healthcare industry. At that point, as you'd buy a $50-150 shoe, a $30 hook to help you carry your groceries (there are those for non-amputees) or a $75 specific item for your sport/hobby/trade, having those prosthetics outside of the healthcare system is doable.
This is amazing! My first project was a wheel for a dog that lost a leg. I have a similar idea to resolve an issue my friend has with injury to his arm. Appreciate your efforts to improve the 3D printing community by sharing your knowledge and experience!
First idea that springs to mind: Have it so that the wheel works like a seatbelt - quick acceleration causes it to lock up. This way your dog can have some compliance when moving slowly and jump or sprint on a whim! 😍
My idea I've had for about a year is Crocs for nubs. My daughter will walk around on her residual limb which can make it sore over time (She does have the heal pad over the end of her tibia to be weight bearing).
But imaging a Croc shoe that is vertical, and the strap is what you use to pull it up over the stump. Like a stump slipper. I've been wanting to try one out of some soft TPU for proof of concept.
Do it!!
I wonder if you have corresponded with any of the notable prosthetics users who post regularly on TH-cam? Martina from NerdForge designed and 3D-printed her prosthetic finger after she lost one (left pinky) in a table saw accident. Footless Jo is left below the knee amputated (result of a horse riding accident when she was young) and she has expressed some frustration with the available feet for her prosthetic, so she might be a particularly good fit for what you have in mind. Maybe some of these prosthetics-using TH-camrs can spread the word for the kind of service you have in mind.
love this content. inspires me to help the cause and help others. Thanks!
Product Engineer at a Prosthetics company: lots of thoughts on this, probably too many to list in a single comment. The main challenge i see (daily...) isnt so much the prosthetic device, but the socket fit and alignment. Sockets need to be custom fit to each patient, taking into account the the device they plan to use so that attachment points can be aligned properly. While there is some adjustment that can be done, there are many cases we see where a new socket is needed in order to address alignment/fit issues before our device will operate as intended. (Im focusing on lower limb).
Our company does actually sell many products (feet) in the $100-500 range, making 3D printing a little more difficult to justify - the big cost is in that socket and componentry mentioned above.
Oh, and regulatory testing. We test every product to specific ISO standards to ensure the product is safe. Lower limb prosthetics failing can be a very dangerous situation.
Lastly, we use 3D printing daily to prototype parts, fit check ideas, and make jigs and fixtures used for assembly (that last one has been a game changer!)
I wouldn't want to spend an arm and a leg for a prothshetic. Then I would need two more!
Friend of mine asked me to make a TPU front dog leg for a full size dog 🐕. I’m not quite sure how this will work but we are going to try it and take it from there
This same logic could be applied to custom shoes for everybody. I see custom splints, body armor, helmets, and glasses as the future of 3d printing.
your video are great thanks for the ideas
The one off adaptability of 3d printing has always seemed like a good fit with prosthetics. Imagine an amputee walking around with a backpack or a car trunk full of hands or feet for various circumstances.
Great snap sound intro!
What filament do you print prosthetics in?
I helped build some of those hands where they move through wrist and the fingers grip. Some cool tech behind it. I’d love to get involved and help out printing!
Yup, human hands are just miraculous.
EDIT: every limb is. every part. every cell.
“Economies of scale” is a term used for the idea of how a business or process becomes more efficient and viable as the size of operations increases. Slant 3d is clearly familiar with this I just wanted to share the name/term for this idea that I know it as
First thing I thought was Lego hand when I saw your right hand claw
Do you have resources for reducing filament usage while maintaining strength? I want to use the plug in but it’s quite expensive for my item. I gotta be price competitive
Email us the model at info@slant3d.com and we will take a look
I am very happy with my foot at the moment, but the socket needs some work - guessing that is what the prosthetic guy is for? New to this world but learning quickly - great topic!
"Assistive devices", you can't call them prosthetics without bringing down the ire of the FDA.
I like the Lego looking hand as well, reminds me of Big B's adorable little hands c:
What's the legal side of this, don't prostethics needs some expensive certifications? AFAIK, things like wheelchairs are expensive because they need every nut and bolt traced back to the factory etc, in case something goes wrong, how would that work with 3D-printed prostethics?
Nice mastash ❤.
I thought TPU wasn’t available on the plugin
Prosthetics for grabbing a beer ...
Why no chapters? I’m only looking for Tangled updates
They start up again January 2025 ish
Look at Ian Davis' artificial hand he made.. Insane
Interestingly, the fastest humans are dual below the knee amputees. Their running prostheses with longer lower legs and carbon fiber leaf springs allow them to run faster than "able bodied" athletes. The Paralympic runners are faster than the Olympic runners.
why limit the market to people who lost a limb? why not include additional limbs? never thought you need a third hand for a certain task?
If someone needs all of these prosthetic attachments why wouldn’t they just get their own 3D printer and print it themselves. One printer is cheaper then 3 or 5 200$ attachments.
Cap, all black, stubbles + mustache make me feel like you are an undercover cop trying to lure me into selling drugs to you
plenty of kids in gaza right now that could benefit from this.
The handless contractor... hm... has slight Happy Tree Friends vibes :D
you need to 3d print specialized prostetics like hiccup from how to train a dragon that have specialized prostetic to work with dragon riding xD
Well i would make this be a multi material print instead of doing one material.
Please, please, please watch the video posted 5 days ago by Geek Detour! He made a video on the "legality" of printing using "brick layers" in order to significantly improve the strength of 3D printed parts along layer lines. Probably going to need a legal team to look into it, but if this is something that you could implement into your slicer, I think this could be a major game changer. The title of the video as of the time of this comment is "Brick Layers: Stronger 3D Prints TODAY - instead of 2040 😬". This would create stronger 3D printed products that further closes the gap between 3D printing and injection molding making a 3D printing an even more attractive option for mass production.
It would also make a great video topic for your testing machine.
Hold my beer
i first read the title as 3d printed prostitutes. I think i don't need to mention how fast i clicked the video after that.
there is a market! the issue is that every person needs their own specialized prosthetic, maybe we are both missing the same amount of arm but i cant activate a nerve so i have to get a different prosthetic that will work for me
Hence 3d printing
@@slant3d yeah you still gotta have a designer make it specialized for each person, most 3d printer people like just printing the same type of object, having to design something for every patient is a lot of work. it could still take weeks or months of designing even with 3d printing
@@sandingothat might be how things are now, but engineers and software engineers spending time on a niche like this would definitely improve it.
Where things are at is not the same as where they could be. I say this as a Software Engineer who has built all kinds of products over the years.
Lol, limb difference. That's a new one.
Somewhat underestimating the level of complexity of the actual attachment to the limb that is not all equal with amputees. The cost you stated for prosthetics are the initial stage of the design, fitting and materials etc for each individual, not the appendage that is attached to it. Granted more research and design is welcome at all stages, but please don’t imply you are capable of reducing this initial cost from thousands to $40 or so as that’s clearly untrue and disingenuous to say at the least. A bit more research would have been more appropriate on the subject.
I'm sure liability is what killed 3D-printed prosthetics
What language is that in Fusion, French? Now im asking myself why his Fusion Language isnt English😂
A place like Ukraine may be a good start for getting prosthetics off the ground. A good chunk of the problem is the need for individualized customization which 3D printing is ideal for but there is still the human component of taking in the specific needs, designing and delivery.
With soldiers and civilians in Ukraine missing limbs, there is a market in a centralized place so it may be a good place to start and come up with a more streamlined approach than there is currently that can then be applied in other places as well.
Why is your Fusion not in English?
"Been working on this for a long time" LMFAO! Dude, 3D printers have only been around just over a decade. "A long time"? Give me a break! Even by technology standards, this is still all REALLY brand new! It's barely got it's shine off!
AYUDAME3D is an NGO that does exacly that