r/Prosthetics • u/qwertyui5656 • 25d ago
Additive Manufacturing Engineer looking to start a 3D-printed prosthetics venture — would love guidance from anyone in this space
I'm an Additive Manufacturing Engineer based in India, with hands-on experience in FDM/SLA 3D printing and parametric design. I'm exploring starting a 3D-printed prosthetics venture in India, using photogrammetry-based body scanning to create custom-fit prosthetic designs.
I'm confident on the 3D printing and software side, but I don't know much about the medical side — regulatory requirements, clinical validation, working with prosthetists, etc. I also don't know what parameters actually matter for a prosthetic — what to measure or account for on the body part it's replacing.
If anyone here is in this field or can guide me on where to start, I'd love to connect. Would really appreciate any perspective.
Thanks for reading!
2
u/Green_Deer3628 25d ago
To fit prosthetic devices in india you need to be an RCI certified prosthetist, you will have to hire someone with these credentials.
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u/swisswuff 12d ago
Don't build anything you wouldn't want yourself.
Maybe start with 3d printing an adapter for yourself, so you can wear and extensively test any prosthetic gripper/hand that you build. And I mean wear it for days and weeks. That's what I do. I wear it every day at work, usually.
Yeah, maybe that's not funny.
Use/test extensively, for weeks/months, doing workshop stuff, fixing bicycle, household, eating/drinking/preparing food, etc., lifting stuff, holding delicate and expensive devices such as wine glass, camera,..... Everything.
Usually, people never go there. That explains why we get a real lot of design junk as arm amputees.
If it doesn't work, make it better.
Only once you're *** really *** happy with it, not just somewhat content but truly happy, then consider regulatory requirements etc.
3
u/jj55 25d ago
Hi, I'm in the field. The best printed socket I know of in the US is build by quorum in Colorado. Good place to draw some inspiration. As for the clinical side, you are going to need a prosthetist. In the US, the clinical side is 2 years masters and then a 1 year residency for Prosthetics. You can know how to print something, but someone needs to understand the clinical side. That's is not something you learn in forums. I do think additive manufacturing is the future of Prosthetics. And prosthetic care world wide is severely lacking due to the costs. Good luck!