VUT Science Park successfully prints a prosthetic leg for research purposes

The VUT Design Department handed over a 3D-printed socket component of a below-the-knee amputation prosthetic leg to Mark Poole, a patient of Dr Heinrich Grimsehl, a renowned prosthetist at The Arc Rehabilitation Centre, in Auckland Park, Johannesburg. The socket, which is currently made from carbon fibre, attaches the prosthesis to the patient's residual limb.

The printed socket is the culmination of a collaboration between The Arc and the VUT Science Park Design Department. Thanks to Dr Grimsehl's extensive experience, the department gained insight into the complex and time-consuming process of developing a prosthetic limb and sought to find opportunities within that process for 3D-printing to add value or reduce time.

The Arc provided the Design Department with the positive mould of the residual limb it developed in order to produce the patient's test socket. A patient uses a test socket for a period of three to four weeks to make sure the socket fit (which is critical for patient comfort) is correct. The positive mould was three-dimensionally scanned to generate the CAD data required for printing the socket.

At the handover, Dr Grimsehl attached the required hardware (prosthetic components) to the printed socket and made the necessary alignment adjustments.

Poole leads an active lifestyle in the course of his work and enjoys sports activities.

This socket will assist him in all his activities of daily life.