Evaluation of a digitised splinting approach with multiple-material functionality using Additive Manufacturing technologies

The design and fabrication of custom-made wrist immobilisation splints can be a laborious process. In addition, patient adherence in terms of wear duration and frequency may be affected by a range of contributing factors including poor aesthetics, hygiene issues and fit. This paper suggests the use of additive manufacturing (AM) in a bid to resolve factors affecting adherence and improve the efficiency of design and manufacture. Particular attention is paid to the exploitation of multiple-material capabilities using Objet Connex technologies, with the intent to integrate completely novel and state-of-the-art characteristics within splints. However, in order to exploit the many benefits of AM for customised splint fabrication, appropriate Three Dimensional (3D) Computer Aided Design (CAD) methodologies must be considered for splint design. Furthermore, a specialised CAD approach must be developed for splinting practitioners to allow them to create such geometries. As a result, this paper describes the development of a customised 3D CAD methodology for splinting practitioners to design custom-made splints, in order to evaluate such novel features only available through AM fabrication.