The University of Southampton

Author: Grace Lawton-Hurst

The Revolution of 3D Printing in Prosthetic Limbs

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Introduction

In recent years, remarkable advancements in the field of prosthetics have been sparked by the development of 3D printing. This technology has revolutionised the way in which we can provide more customisable, affordable, user-friendly prosthetic limbs. One of the biggest advantages of such technology are found in its capability to be accessible to so many where, according to NGO LIMBS, only 5% of almost 40million amputees have access to prosthetic devices(1). This blog aims to expand on the incredible inclusion of 3D printing in the world of prosthetic limbs and how it has the potential to transform lives.

Bone Health Preservation

3D printing allows for custom-fit sockets which have the benefit of using digital scans of patients to develop prosthetics which are more efficient in reducing friction and evenly distributing weight across the limb. This means that bone is less likely to be lost as a result of the prosthetic, which can sometimes occur when the prosthetic socket is not an accurate enough fit. Another benefit of this technology, is its capacity for easy adjustments and remodelling to ensure a consistently well-fitted prosthetic, decreasing the chance of any complications leading to disuse and resultant bone health consequences. Additionally, the 3D printing of prosthetics often uses thermoplastics which are much lighter weight and therefore place much less pressure on the bones. Resultantly, bone density is more likely to be preserved and fractures are more likely to be avoided, aiding the maintenance of bone strength.

Disadvantages and Solutions

Although there are benefits to the use of thermoplastics in prosthetics, they are a less strong or durable option when compared with other materials used in prosthetics, such as carbon fibre. This means that it generally has a shorter lifespan and is more likely to need replacing and therefore may be significantly less suitable for use in lower-limb prosthetics. This may particularly be the case for patients who have more active, high-impact lifestyles, or those with higher body weights.

Therefore, a more suitable use for 3D printing technology in prosthetics, as proven thus far, may be in upper-body limbs and in children. This combats complications of exerting too much pressure on the lighter-weight thermoplastic, and enhances the technology’s potential for durability. This may be a particularly beneficial advance in technology for children and growing adults. This is due to, as before mentioned, the precise adjustability of 3D printing. Additionally, it is a far cheaper option for prosthetics as traditional prosthetics can cost thousands to replace as children are out-growing them. The organisation, e-NABLE began a project whereby many constructed and donated 3D printed prosthetic hands to children for free to aid research in the area.

Summary

The amazing affordability and accessibility provides an abundance of potential for 3D printing in the field of prosthetics. Although there may currently be limitations as to what field of prosthetics this technology might be best suited to, there is hope that technological advances in thermoplastics or finding more suitable materials may lead 3D printing to be the future of prosthetics.

(1) – https://www.sculpteo.com/en/3d-learning-hub/applications-of-3d-printing/3d-printed-prosthetics/

Animal Organ Donors – Is it Worth it?

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After attending lectures on stem cells and tissue engineering, I found myself to be very intrigued by chimeras and the diversity capabilities of specific cells. Specifically, the possibility that we could potentially grow human organs in another species, with the intention of organ donation, was something that seemed so unbelievable to me. This provoked me to research further into how close to achieving this we may be, as there is also bound to be ethical issues surrounding this worth discussion. Currently, the NHS weekly statistics reports that 6963 people are currently waiting for organ transplants in the UK. The NHS also reports that 30 in 100 patients experience organ rejection following the implementation of a donated organ. Therefore, I believe it to be an important issue worth researching to find more solutions for.

Pablo Ross (Thursday September 28 2017) working on creating organs from human stem cells that can be grown in pigs and other livestock. Photo Brian Baer

What research is currently being done?

Investigation of this subject lead me to find the research done by Dr. Pablo Ross who has used his extensive veterinary experience, combined with his in-depth knowledge of stem cells to conduct experiments on creating a human-pig chimera. So far, the research and its limited funding, has lead as far as creating chimeras which contain approximately every 1 in 100,000 cells of the pigs being human because pigs and humans are such distant relatives. With this being the extent of current research, it is fair to say we are not yet at a point where human-pig chimeras are able to provide functional help in the medical world. The end goal is that one day we may grow an organ that is fully human or at least made up of enough human cells that it may overcome the prevalent issue of organ rejection.

How ethical is it?

The immediate issue that should be addressed is that testing on animals can not always be seen as entirely ethical as they cannot provide their own informed consent for such procedures and research to take place. It is because of this that humans must make the decision to evaluate if the potential harm to the animals outweighs the benefits of the research or not. The benefits of this line of research, if successful, could potentially lead to a huge reduction in organ rejection, as well as a largely reduced waiting time for all those suffering with organ failure. However, the concept of breeding animals for the purpose of organ donation to humans, which is potentially a very invasive procedure, raises many ethical concerns. My thoughts are that if the research is to be done at all, it may be, in some sense, more fair to use animals who are already being bred with the purpose of being used for their meat as then more of the animal can be used, instead of disregarded.