3D printing company 3D Systems has helped disabled Derby the Dog run with the aid of 3D printed prosthetic front limbs using 3D System’s ProJet 5500X multi-material printing technology, that has been specifically designed to provide comfort and speed.
The new 3D printed prosthetic front limbs enabled Derby to run down the street for the first time, after being born with a congenital deformity, characterised by small forearms and no front paws. Watch the video after the jump to learn more about the 3D printed prosthetic project and see Derby in action.
“Until now, only able to get around on soft surfaces. Hard surfaces, like sidewalks, cause severe abrasions on his front extremities. Having fostered Derby through the dog rescue group Peace and Paws in Hillsborough, N.H., Tara Anderson decided to help. Tara, as a 3D Systems employee, knew that 3D printing afforded an unmatched level of design freedom, functionality and speed. Using 3D technology, she knew it would be possible to rapidly design and manufacture prosthetics customized to Derby’s morphology.
Marshaling help from Derrick Campana, a certified Orthotist at Animal Ortho Care in Chantilly, VA, and 3DS designers, Kevin Atkins and Dave DiPinto, data of Derby’s forearms and 3D scan data of a cup design, created by Campana, were used to create the 3D design. The team utilized Geomagic Freeform, 3DS’ digital sculpting platform, which allowed them to create perfect organic shapes and smooth curves for Derby’s shape.
The ProJet 5500X delivers multi-material 3D printing in a single build, so Tara and the designers could build complete prosthetics with comfortable cups in rubber and rigid spokes and base. Ready in a few hours, the prosthetics were shipped to Derby for testing.”
For more information on the new 3D printed prosthetic jump over to the 3D Systems website for details via the link below.
Source: 3D Systems : i09
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