DESIGNING AND MANUFACTURING OF AN ANKLE ORTHOSIS USING 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY

Manufacturing of medical orthoses is one of the most spectacular applications of 3D printing methods. Forces acting on the orthosis and on the patient's foot and the biomechanical system of the foot are important to be considered when designing of an ankle orthosis is intended. The forces are important to be considered also in close correlation with the materials' characteristics from which the part will be 3D printed. PLA material has been successfully used for realizing one orthosis part by 3D printing, due to its reliable mechanical behavior proved by the results reached by finite element analysis that has been performed in the research.