Additive Manufacturing of Smart Footwear Components for Healthcare Applications
Diabetic foot complications pose significant health risks, necessitating innovative approaches in orthotic design. This study explores the potential of additive manufacturing in producing functional footwear components with lattice-based structures for diabetic foot orthoses. Five distinct lattice s...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Micromachines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/1/30 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832587907429302272 |
|---|---|
| author | Aravind Kanna Kundumani Janarthanan Bala Vaidhyanathan |
| author_facet | Aravind Kanna Kundumani Janarthanan Bala Vaidhyanathan |
| author_sort | Aravind Kanna Kundumani Janarthanan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Diabetic foot complications pose significant health risks, necessitating innovative approaches in orthotic design. This study explores the potential of additive manufacturing in producing functional footwear components with lattice-based structures for diabetic foot orthoses. Five distinct lattice structures (gyroid, diamond, Schwarz P, Split P, and honeycomb) were designed and fabricated using stereolithography (SLA) with varying strand thicknesses and resin types. Mechanical testing revealed that the Schwarz P lattice exhibited superior compressive strength, particularly when fabricated with flexible resin. Porosity analysis demonstrated significant variations across structures, with the gyroid showing the most pronounced changes with increasing mesh thickness. Real-time pressure distribution mapping, achieved through integrated force-sensitive resistors and Arduino-based data acquisition, enabled the visualization of pressure hotspots across the insole. The correlation between lattice properties and pressure distribution was established, allowing for tailored designs that effectively alleviated high-pressure areas. This study demonstrates the feasibility of creating highly personalized orthotic solutions for diabetic patients using additive manufacturing, offering a promising approach to reducing the plantar pressure in foot and may contribute to improved outcomes in diabetic foot care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-21293358a1844ae0b1cdfd26a0ea10b7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj-art-21293358a1844ae0b1cdfd26a0ea10b72025-01-24T13:41:54ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2024-12-011613010.3390/mi16010030Additive Manufacturing of Smart Footwear Components for Healthcare ApplicationsAravind Kanna Kundumani Janarthanan0Bala Vaidhyanathan1Department of Materials, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UKDepartment of Materials, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UKDiabetic foot complications pose significant health risks, necessitating innovative approaches in orthotic design. This study explores the potential of additive manufacturing in producing functional footwear components with lattice-based structures for diabetic foot orthoses. Five distinct lattice structures (gyroid, diamond, Schwarz P, Split P, and honeycomb) were designed and fabricated using stereolithography (SLA) with varying strand thicknesses and resin types. Mechanical testing revealed that the Schwarz P lattice exhibited superior compressive strength, particularly when fabricated with flexible resin. Porosity analysis demonstrated significant variations across structures, with the gyroid showing the most pronounced changes with increasing mesh thickness. Real-time pressure distribution mapping, achieved through integrated force-sensitive resistors and Arduino-based data acquisition, enabled the visualization of pressure hotspots across the insole. The correlation between lattice properties and pressure distribution was established, allowing for tailored designs that effectively alleviated high-pressure areas. This study demonstrates the feasibility of creating highly personalized orthotic solutions for diabetic patients using additive manufacturing, offering a promising approach to reducing the plantar pressure in foot and may contribute to improved outcomes in diabetic foot care.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/1/30additive manufacturing3D printingstereolithographylatticesfootwearplantar pressure |
| spellingShingle | Aravind Kanna Kundumani Janarthanan Bala Vaidhyanathan Additive Manufacturing of Smart Footwear Components for Healthcare Applications Micromachines additive manufacturing 3D printing stereolithography lattices footwear plantar pressure |
| title | Additive Manufacturing of Smart Footwear Components for Healthcare Applications |
| title_full | Additive Manufacturing of Smart Footwear Components for Healthcare Applications |
| title_fullStr | Additive Manufacturing of Smart Footwear Components for Healthcare Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Additive Manufacturing of Smart Footwear Components for Healthcare Applications |
| title_short | Additive Manufacturing of Smart Footwear Components for Healthcare Applications |
| title_sort | additive manufacturing of smart footwear components for healthcare applications |
| topic | additive manufacturing 3D printing stereolithography lattices footwear plantar pressure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/1/30 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aravindkannakundumanijanarthanan additivemanufacturingofsmartfootwearcomponentsforhealthcareapplications AT balavaidhyanathan additivemanufacturingofsmartfootwearcomponentsforhealthcareapplications |