Development of a low-cost, user-friendly and rapid prototyping approach for the design and production of patient-specific ring splints

Ring splints are regularly used to address swan neck deformity, boutonniere deformity as well as rheumatoid thumb due to their capacity to improve pain, function, and satisfaction. However, these ring splints do have limitations such as their price, lack of customizable attributes, and aesthetic dissatisfaction. For these reasons, 3D printing has gained traction as a possible manufacturing solution. Although promising, the design of such orthopedic devices requires a certain level of technical expertise that clinicians do not usually have. Taking this into account, the main purpose of this project is to develop a rapid prototyping approach for the design and production of patient-specific ring splints that are user-friendly from the clinician’s point of view. For the outcome to be efficient and advantageous, the process will have to meet the criteria to be implemented at the Sherbrooke Hospital/Medical Center, “Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke” (CHUS), and the project’s own standards:
• Identify requirements for the printing of custom orthoses within the “Service de rhumatologie du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke”.
• Develop and identify each step of the workflow, from image processing, to ring design, to printing preprocessing.
• Develop a time-efficient simplified process to make it more user-friendly and easier to use by health professionals the day the patient is seen.
• Identify commercially available 3D printers and materials that can satisfy the project’s demands.
• Reduce manufacturing costs to make the ring orthoses more affordable for patients.

Faculty Supervisor:

Patrick Vermette

Student:

Partner:

Fondation Huguette et Jean-Louis Fontaine;Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l'Estrie - Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

Université de Sherbrooke

Program:

Business Strategy Internship