3D printed upper limb prosthetics

Introduction: In the last 15 years, the market for prosthetic arms and hands has shifted toward systems with greater degrees of actuation. There has also been a progressive use of emerging technologies to overcome hardware design challenges. Moreover, the proliferation of rapid prototyping has resulted in applications in the prosthetic market. Even though there are concerns on robustness and wide-user acceptance, the affordable and customizable solution offered by rapid prototyping, combined with the possibility for easy maintenance and repair, is very attractive for prosthesis design. Areas covered: Functional layouts for multi-articulated, dexterous 3D printed hands and sockets are freely available, with many patients using them at home. We provide an overview of the current solutions, compare their features, and discuss their potential impact on the field of prosthetics. Expert commentary: The high level of low-cost customization is an appealing concept, but this comes with challenges not yet systematically addressed; such challenges include durability, sufficient grip strength, reproducibility, and general appeal to the wide range of users. The introduction of new printable materials could assist in overcoming some of these issues, but present an added risk of compromising the low cost and wide availability.