A 3D printed post-operative cast
Industrial designer Scott Summit of Summit ID tore the TFC ligament in his wrist in 2014. He used the injury as a chance to go beyond the traditional fiberglass cast, using 3D printing. Summit had his arm scanned before the operation to create a base data model from which to 3D print a personalized cast. “The goal was to create a minimal structure that would stabilize any motion of the hand with respect to the forearm. Any material that did not contribute to this task was to be removed,” Summit recounts on Summit ID’s website.
“The result was a brace that allowed the skin to breathe,” Summit said.
The innovation is a finalist in the Golden Mousetrap Awards’s materials and assembly category for 3D printing and rapid prototyping, materials, tools and services.