Evaluation of materials for prosthetic sockets: performance criteria in additive manufacturing processes

Abstract

The main problem addressed by this research is the lack of accessibility to personalized and economical sockets for the disabled, since traditional sockets can be expensive and time consuming to manufacture, which makes their acquisition difficult. Additionally, the lack of customization prevents prostheses from being adjusted to the individual needs of each patient, limiting their mobility and causing discomfort. The socket is a critical part of the prosthesis that must fit perfectly to the patient's residual limb to ensure a secure and stable connection between the prosthesis and the limb. Traditional socket fabrication can be a lengthy and costly process that requires several doctor visits and tests, which is difficult for patients who live in remote areas or have difficulty moving around. That is why, this project aims to select the optimal material for the manufacture of the prosthesis based on a process by contribution of thread, which requires that the material has similar properties to conventional materials such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) this was achieved through the use of software for material selection ANSYS GRANTA EDUPACK, in which different filters will be verified within the same program with the objective of selecting a material with mechanical properties similar to those mentioned above and apart from this, that can be used in the printing technique by yarn contribution, also select according to the costs and ease to get it with the aim that it can be accessible to people who require it. This is why the design of a 3D printed socket has proven to be a viable and effective solution to the lack of accessibility of low-cost customized prostheses for users who do not have the facility to obtain a complete prosthesis made of materials commonly found in the market.