The fastest field sport in the world: A case report on 3-D printed hurling gloves to help prevent injury

Study Design: Case Series Introduction: Hand injuries are the most common injury observed in hurling though compliance in wearing protective gloves is reportedly low. Purpose: To devise a glove that offers comfort, protection and freedom-of-movement, using the bespoke capabilities of three-dimensional (3D) printing. Methods: Each player's "catching" hand was imaged using a 3D scanner to produce a bespoke glove that they later trialed and provided feedback. Results: Nine players provided feedback. On average the players favorably rated the glove for the protection offered. The average response on comfort was poor and no players reported that glove aided performance during play. Discussion: This feasibility study explores the versatility of 3D printing as a potential avenue to improve player compliance in wearing protective sportswear. Feedback will help refine glove design for future prototypes. Conclusions: Hurling is the primary focus in this study, but knowledge gains should be transferable to other sports that have a high incidence of hand injury. Level of Evidence:

Identifying and quantifying inefficiencies within industrial parametric CAD models

Parametric CAD software is the primary development tool for the design engineer during the product development process. However, industrial parametric CAD models are often constructed in a manner that leads to inefficiencies during subsequent product development activities. Despite the availability of Model Quality Tools (MQTs) these ‘poor’ quality models can currently only be accurately identified using time-consuming and subjective auditing from experienced users. The project aims to develop a more robust solution, using measurable part characteristics, to predict the efficiency level of these CAD files

A review of existing anatomical data capture methods to support the mass customisation of wrist splints

Anatomical data acquisition methods used within medicine exhibit various strengths and weaknesses, particularly with regards to accuracy, resolution, patient comfort and safety. Difficulties with data acquisition of wrist and hand geometry are often underestimated, and a suitable method is yet to be identified and standardised to capture skin surface topography to support the mass customisation of wrist splints. The aim of this investigation is to identify a suitable data acquisition method, capable of digitising collected data of the wrist and hand, for manipulation and conversion into a suitable file format to create customised wrist splints using additive manufacture. Literature suggests that scanning inanimate objects such as plaster casts using multiple three-dimensional laser scanners can provide adequate quality scans with suitable accuracy and resolution, with low cost and low risk to the patient. However, post processing would be required to create a “watertight” digital model suitable for additive manufacture

A review of wrist splint designs for additive manufacture

Currently, patients with wrist ailments may be prescribed wrist splints to aid in their treatment regime. The traditional fabrication process of custom-made splints is skill dependent, time-consuming and the splints themselves pose numerous problems with regards to patient compliance. To overcome this, the use of Additive Manufacture has been proposed in recent years and there has been an increase in public awareness and exploration. Many of these developments have been as a result of the Maker-movement, the Internet-of-Things and development of more accessible technologies and infrastructures to enable production of AM builds; hobbyists, industry and academia are exploring the use of AM for splints, all with strengths and weaknesses. This paper highlights and describes specific examples of AM wrist splints currently available in the public domain and summarises strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the future implementation into the healthcare sector

A performance assessment of a developed mesh-generating algorithm: A computer-aided design modelling process to support progression within additive manufacturing

Developments in Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies and associated processes have increased the limits of attainable design complexity, yet Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools that may utilise these new potentials have not advanced as rapidly. Research detailed in this paper addresses aspects of automatic geometric design that may support the generation of high resolution, functional, three-dimensional (3D) textures. A 3D CAD model of a surface with complex curvature was modelled to be systematically populated with points using a developed mesh-generation algorithm. Following the successful generation of a mesh the distances between points were analysed, throughout the process, to measure the performance of the algorithm. Equidistance between points was achieved and, if the algorithm was used as intended, would provide an essential foundation for successive texture application processes with minimal manual input required

Computer-aided design to support fabrication of wrist splints using 3D printing: a feasibility study

Introduction: Issues contributing to poor patient compliance for splint wear include poor aesthetics, fit and performance. This paper describes a novel digitised splinting process using 3D printing in an attempt to overcome these issues. The output of the investigation was the creation of a specialised computer-aided design software workflow to support 3D printing, developed specifically for splinting practitioners in the UK, to enable them to design splints themselves for each individual patient. Method: A small-scale feasibility study was done, based on the current splinting process. A thorough literature review and physical engagement in current splinting practice was performed, highlighting key requirements for successful splint fabrication. Key requirements were then replicated in a virtual software environment. Opportunities for integrating new, novel features were explored. The key requirements were then refined into a specialised software workflow to replicate the splinting process. The specialised software was then evaluated by 10 practitioners. User trials of the software were performed, followed by semi-structured interviews. Audio recordings were transcribed and then coded to establish similar trends of opinions, and areas for future research. No patients or vulnerable participants were involved in the study. Results: All participants were able to use and navigate around the software prototype with relative ease. Strengths included potential simplicity in modelling more complex splints, but several areas for future research are identified, including cost analysis and materials development. Discussion: The digitised splinting process shows promise for the benefit of both practitioners and their patients, provided that future research and investment can overcome current limitations

Developing a questionnaire to explore people’s attitudes towards emotionally-driven prostheses: a pilot study

The literature shows that societies’ attitudes towards people with disabilities are negative, as a consequence of stigma. The design of the products (e.g. prostheses) can affect the attitudes of the people as products elicit emotions. However, research suggests that people have difficulties expressing their emotions. Therefore, the conduct of a pilot study, based on an interview-based survey questionnaire, was essential before conducting a full-study to test whether prostheses evoke emotions in non-prosthetic users (feasibility of study). The objectives were: to gain insights regarding aspects of the structure of the questionnaire; to examine whether people’s attitudes towards people with limb-loss can be affected by the design of prostheses; to identify whether people’s attraction towards prostheses can be affected by their level of emotionally-driven design; to investigate if prostheses can elicit emotions in non-prosthetic users, and; to explore if there is any relationship between the level of attractiveness and the emotions prostheses elicit. The findings cannot be considered as representative, since the sample was small (23 participants). However, they showed that prostheses elicited emotions in non-prosthetic users; the most frequently expressed emotions were sadness, admiration, and serenity. The level of emotional-design of prostheses appeared to affect the level of people’s attractiveness and implied the existence of a relationship with the emotions that were elicited. These findings highlighted the importance of conducting a full-study and suggested the existence of an opportunity for altering the negative perceptions towards people with limb-loss into positive ones through the design of prostheses

Giving patients what they want: proposing additive manufacture as a method to design and fabricate wrist splints

Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis may be prescribed wrist splints as part of their treatment regime however; compliance is known to be a problem. Whilst the literature provides an insight into some of the determinants behind compliance, it does not provide comprehensive knowledge of the reasons why patients wear and do not wear wrist splints. Recently, additive manufacturing has been proposed to create wrist splints. However, before developments in AM are made further, it needs to be understood why patients do not comply and what it is about the splint itself which makes patients not want to wear them. The aim of this paper is to use generative design research methods to understand these motivators, highlight the negative features of traditional splints, and explore participants’ dreams for a future splint. This data is then used to discuss how AM can be used in the splinting process

Customised design and manufacture of protective face masks combining a practitioner-friendly modelling approach and low-cost devices for digitising and additive manufacturing

This project analyses the viability of an efficient modelling approach using a semi-automatic algorithm within a Computer Aided Design (CAD) application in combination with low-cost digitising devices and low-cost Additive Manufacturing (AM) printers when designing and manufacturing patient-specific face masks. The aims of the study were to enable clinical practitioners to utilise the advantages of three-dimensional (3D) scanning, CAD and AM without having to be trained to use design/engineering software. Face features were captured using two 3D devices. The resulting meshes were compared via the Hausdorff Distance method. A semi-automatic modelling procedure was developed with ‘Rhinoceros’ and ‘Grasshopper’ to model the face mask and customise several features. With that procedure, volunteers modelled a face mask in less than 30 minutes in their first attempt. The resulting virtual mask was manufactured with two AM printers. An initial economic study indicated that the presented approach offers a feasible alternative to the current practices

The use of digital human modelling for the definition and contextualisation of a direct vision standard for trucks

This paper presents research performed on behalf of Transport for London in the UK addressing the over representation of trucks involved in accidents with vulnerable road users where issues with driver vision are often cited as the main casual factors. A Direct Vision Standard for London and potentially for Europe has been developed that utilizes a volumetric assessment of field of view performance. This paper presents research into how to contextualize the somewhat abstract volumetric performance scores into real world metrics using digital human models. The research modelled 27 trucks currently available from major manufacturers and analyzed their volumetric performance. It also explored a supplementary process using digital human models define the minimum threshold of field of view performance. The current proposal utilizes thirteen human models, representing 5th %ile Italian females, positioned to front, left and right of the cab. The minimum standard was developed to ensure that no blind spot exists between the regulations for mirror coverage and the new Direct Vision Standard. The research is ongoing in line with the finalization of the standard at a European level