3D Printed Cosmetic Covers for Lower Limb Prosthetics

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Product Design

Background:

• Cosmetic covers for prostheses enhance aesthetic appearance and patient acceptance.
• Evolution from realistic covers to custom-made products that express patient personality.
• Need for objective analysis of current cosmetic cover designs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather and compare design elements from five major cosmetic cover companies.
• To analyze and benchmark existing designs using the Pugh matrix method.
• To propose a novel cosmetic cover design based on superior identified criteria.

Main Methods:

• Information gathering from UNYQ, Limb-Art, Alleles, WillowWood, and Aqua-Leg.
• Comparative analysis of design elements using the Pugh matrix.
• Identification of best-performing criteria for a new design concept.

Main Results:

• Pugh matrix analysis identified key areas for improvement: cover fit/aesthetics, ease of attachment, and practicality.
• A novel theoretical design demonstrated significant potential improvement over existing options.
• The study provided an objective assessment based on available literature and web data.

Conclusions:

• Opportunities exist for novel cosmetic cover designs with enhanced fit, aesthetics, and user-friendliness.
• The proposed theoretical design highlights significant advancement potential in the field.
• Future research should incorporate subjective patient feedback for more comprehensive insights.