Development and Evaluation of Fall Impact Protection Pads Using Additive Manufacturing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Falls pose a significant risk of hip fractures in elderly women.
• Existing protective garments often lack comfort, aesthetic appeal, or adequate impact absorption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate fall-impact protection pants for elderly women using additive manufacturing.
• To create protective hip pads with enhanced impact absorption and wearer comfort.

Main Methods:

• Additive manufacturing (3D printing) was used to create a flexible thermoplastic polyurethane mesh structure for hip pads.
• Pads were combined with foam for optimal shock absorption.
• Impact-absorbing performance was tested using physical impact experiments (bowling ball drop tests).
• Wearability, appearance, and functionality were evaluated by subject and expert groups.

Main Results:

• The 3D printed hip pads reduced impact force by over 82% in all tested drop heights (15-25 cm).
• Impact forces were consistently below the average hip fracture threshold of 3472 N.
• Evaluations indicated the pants had a natural appearance, good fit, and comfortable wearability.
• Pad design (position, shape, flexibility, weight) and ease of use were rated favorably.

Conclusions:

• Additive manufacturing enables the creation of effective fall-impact protection pants for elderly women.
• The developed protective pants offer a promising combination of significant impact protection and user comfort.
• This technology advances the application of functional garments for enhanced elderly safety.