Complete section of research paper (2 pages)

Running head: 3D PRINTED AND CONVENTIONAL PROSTHETIC LIMBS 1

3D PRINTED AND CONVENTIONAL PROSTHETIC LIMBS 5

3D Printed and Conventional Prosthetic Limbs

Name: Chanyez Chamberlain

Institution: York College

Date: 4/19/2018

Can 3D Printed Prosthetic Limbs Be More Cost Effective Than Conventional Prosthetic Limbs?

Cutting edge technology relating to the making of prosthetic limbs has redefined the lives of individuals in need of such. The lives of people in need of prosthetic limbs have specifically been made better through improved functionality of the prosthetic limbs and adjusted prices. The modern day prosthetic limb is an artificial device, which replaces a missing leg, which might be lost in different ways such as trauma, congenital conditions or disease. They have a fundamental purpose whereby they are aimed at restoring standard functionality of an individual limb. The need for a more efficient limb has led to a more significant technology and innovation research; here there is need to realize a higher level of engagement based on the need for a constant transformative technology.

Printing 3D limbs have to provide a very different perspective where patients in need of artificial limbs can be fitted. 3D legs are more efficient, cost-effective and have less detrimental an individual health and well-being. 3D printed prosthetic limbs are more cost effective in comparison to conventional prosthetic limbs. The technology that is involved in the making of 3D printed prosthetic limbs is Open Bionics. Open Bionics has been useful in the making of 3D prosthetic limbs especially at a level that can be deemed as next generation. It is worth mentioning that what sets 3D printed limbs apart from conventional ones is that the entirety of the mechanical parts are printed with 3D technology and save costs consistently .

The cost aspect that is considered in this case involves the cost of production, purchase, and transportation. Cost effectiveness is one of the most important intention of making 3D printed prosthetic limbs; as a theme it comes second to production. The 3D printed prosthetic limbs are a significant innovation, which has sought to create highly modernized limbs, which can help an individual carry out their activities without considerable challenge. The 3D printed limbs are particular to each patient since there is need to ensure that they are compatible with the system of the patient to achieve a higher level of efficiency (Ventola, 2014).

The cost of material for creating a conventional prosthetic limb is very high and thus fewer individuals can afford the conventional limbs since they involve many steps, which consume a lot of time during production time and therefore has a significant influence on the overall production cost for the traditional prosthetic limbs. The development of a single prosthetic limb based on the traditional approaches takes approximately a week; taking lesser steps and material. In fact making the 3D limb is a realization of lean manufacturing.

The prosthetic need to be built and sized manually and thus to have mass production, there is a need for high labor, which automatically leads high cost of production where the cost of production is passed to patients, which limit their ability to create a higher engagement. The cost of conventional prosthetic limb varies from 5000 to 10,000 USD based on the type of the limb that is purchased (Diment, Bergmann & Thompson, 2017).

The 3D printed prosthetic limbs cut the cost and production time significantly. The 3D printed prosthetic limbs are expected to be produced at 80% faster rate than the conventional prosthetic limbs from one week to 1.5 days and developed efficiently with specific adaptability to specific patients. A printed 3D printed prosthetic limbs costs approximately $20, which is a tiny fraction of the total cost of conventional prosthetic limb, which costs up to $100,000. The 3D printed limbs are very useful based on high-level technology, which is essential in deciding its influence on the many patients who are in need of prosthetic limbs (Laszczak et al., 2015). The low cost of 3D printed limbs has created a favorable environment where they are highly affordable to people from low social classes including low-income families who can afford a 3D printed prosthetic limb. The cost when taking into consideration the training on how to use is still manageable and thus creates a higher level of engagement across different countries.

There is need to focus on 3D printed limbs based on the high degree of efficiency and cost effectiveness which ensures that everyone who requires prosthetic limbs can get them at a very affordable cost. A more significant engagement provides a profoundly transformed focus where there is need to improve services delivery within the development of prosthetic limbs.

References

Diment, L., Bergmann, J., & Thompson, M. (2017). 3D printed upper-limb prostheses lack randomized controlled trials: a systematic review. INCOMPLETE

Laszczak, P., Jiang, L., Bader, D. L., Moser, D., & Zahedi, S. (2015). Development and validation of a 3D-printed interfacial stress sensor for prosthetic applications. Medical Engineering and Physics, 37(1), 132-137. MISSING BIBLIO INFO

Ventola, C. L. (2014). Medical applications for 3D printing: current and projected uses. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 39(10), 704. MISSING INFO