Improving Quality of Life Through Use of 3D Printing

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Presenter(s)

Joseph Walters, CPHQ, CBIS

Director of Analytics
On With Life, United States

Slides
Chris H. Hill, MBA

CIRAS Technology Assistance Program (TAP) Director
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa, United States
CS

Cassandra Swacker

CIRAS Engineering Intern
Iowa State University
Urbandale, Iowa, United States
Lianna Genovese, Biomedical & Mechanical Engineer

CEO & Founder
ImaginAble Solutions
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Recent trends in 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, are creating new opportunities for rehab programs to develop custom assistive devices. Two organizations, On With Life, a neuro-rehab provider, and ImaginAble Solutions, an assistive tech company share how utilizing 3D printing technology allows for the creation and revision of assistive devices. Their experience in developing these devices provides a fundamental understanding of what additive manufacturing is and how it can be implemented in rehab programs. The most successful assistive devices are developed by multi-disciplinary teams involving the person served, therapists, and biomedical engineers. Following the five steps of Design Thinking, 3D printing allows for a low-cost iterative approach to device development. The ability of rehab providers to customize assistive devices to the needs of an individual is the best recipe for increasing and maintaining one’s quality of life.

Learning Objectives:

Describe How a Collaborative Design Process involving Person Served, Therapists and Engineers Enhances the Design of Assistive Devices
Describe Advantages of Using Additive Manufacturing Process in Design of New Assistive Technology Devices
Identify Predictors that Increase Adoption Rates of Assistive Technology Devices
Develop a Roadmap of How Additive Manufacturing Can be Implemented in a Rehab Program