PROTOCOLO DIGITAL PARA PROJETO CONCEITUAL E VALIDAÇÃO DE UMA ÓRTESE TORNOZELO-PÉ

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Orthotics and Prosthetics

Background:

• Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs) are crucial for lower limb rehabilitation.
• Traditional AFO design can be time-consuming and may lack patient specificity.
• Advancements in 3D mapping offer potential for improved orthotic design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a digital protocol for the conceptual design of Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs).
• To leverage 3D mapping technologies for creating patient-specific AFOs.
• To assess the structural integrity of 3D-designed AFOs under critical load conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 3D scanning of a child's ankle-foot complex with drop foot.
• Employed Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software (Autodesk Meshmixer and Fusion) for conceptualization.
• Performed static load analysis using the Von Mises failure criterion on an ABS material AFO model.

Main Results:

• A digital protocol for AFO conceptual design and validation was successfully established.
• Static load analysis confirmed the structural integrity of the AFO model under critical loads.
• The digital workflow facilitated the creation of a functional, patient-specific AFO.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrated a viable digital workflow for AFO design and validation using 3D technologies.
• This approach shows significant potential for creating customized orthoses for lower limb rehabilitation.
• 3D mapping technologies enhance the development of patient-specific Ankle-Foot Orthoses.