Ferro Cibernetica · 2023
Meta Mecha Cuffia protesica
by Xuerong Cai
- A' Design Award di Ferro 2023 in Cibernetica
- CLIENT: Meta Mecha
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 595,832
- Verification code F82F57FB55 · Verify this award
Colors
About Meta Mecha Cuffia protesica
Meta Mecha è una cuffia per invaso protesico realizzata con metamateriali meccanici. La cuffia viene generata a partire dalla scansione 3D del moncone e dai dati di pressione raccolti durante la deambulazione, così che la superficie meccanica risponda a esigenze mediche personalizzate. Meta Mecha è stampata in 3D in TPU elastico su stampanti industriali. Un materiale sensibile alla pressione cambia colore quando la pressione supera il limite di tolleranza, segnalando all'utente che la cuffia deve essere sostituita. La sostituzione è semplice ed economica e accompagna la graduale deformazione del moncone.
About the A' Design Award di Ferro
Meta Mecha Cuffia protesica ha vinto l'A' Design Award di Ferro, un riconoscimento prestigioso conferito a buoni design che soddisfano i requisiti professionali e industriali attesi da creazioni ben progettate. I vincitori di Ferro dimostrano la grande abilità, l'elevata specializzazione, la comprensione esperta e la capacità creativa dei loro creatori. Ci si aspetta che Meta Mecha Cuffia protesica sia una creazione molto apprezzata, ammirata e amata, pratica e innovativa. Questo design vincitore dell'A' Design Award di Ferro integra le migliori pratiche del settore e ha caratteristiche tecniche competenti legate a know-how e talento. Meta Mecha Cuffia protesica è rispettato per la sua accuratezza ed è progettato per offrire miglioramenti della qualità della vita che aiutano a rendere il mondo un posto migliore.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- With 3D printable mechanical metamaterials as the prosthetic liner, Meta Mecha makes it possible to customize mechanical surfaces for different amputees according to personalized medical requirements.
The pressure sensitive color-changing material provides visualization of the unsuitability and draws attention.
The prosthetic liner can be replaced to support the deformation process of residual limb. The user can update their mechanical surface inside the prosthetic in a simple and economical way. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 136mm*Depth 139mm*Height 175mm
(The dimensions of prosthetic liner should differ from user to user, above is an example of our case) - Tags
- Prosthetic socket liner, Customized design, 3D print, Computational design
- Production Technology
- The mechanical metamaterial prosthetic liner is 3D printed with industrial quality 3D printers and elastic TPU. It is impossible to manufacture the complex 3D shape without additive manufacturing technology.
3D scanning and pressure sensor equipment are used before the design process to acquire the shape and mechanical requirements of amputees.
Generative design approach is used to generate design with customized requirements. In our prototype, we use Grasshopper to generate our design. - Design Challenge
- It is a challenge for us to understand the logic and process of editing mechanical metamaterial. We have referred to many papers and interviewed a metamaterial specialist in our university and finally managed to arrange the structure unit on a prosthetic liner by using Grasshopper and plugins. Another challenge emerges when we try to prototype the product with 3D printing. It took us a while to find an industrial 3D printing laboratory that can use TPU to print the complex structure of metamaterial.
- Research
- We had looked through papers on mechanical metamaterials, medical requirements on prosthetic and computational design to understand how to apply metamaterials in the prosthesis field. We then had conversations with a metamaterial specialist to verify our idea. We also printed out ten little blocks with metamaterial structure to experiment on different mechanical properties.
- Inspiration
- The future trend of computational design draws our attention to programmable matter and metamaterial. We are surprised to find its potential to empower design with material science and motivated to reconsider objects in microscopic logic.
With generative design and simulation tools, we propose application of metamaterial in the prosthetic field, offering both customized and medically compliant service. - Project Duration
- The project started in October 2021 in Shanghai, the first prototype was exhibited in D&I Shanghai in December 2021. An educational exhibition based on the project was shown in Shanghai Dyson Ideation Lab from February.
- Operation Flow
- Users first get residual limb 3D scanning and walk in a common socket to collect his pressure distribution data. A 3D model of metamaterial prosthetic liner is generated based on the data collected and medical requirements. After the prosthetic liner is 3D printed, it will be assembled with other parts of the prosthesis and delivered to the user. The prosthetic liner adjusts the best pressure level for the user and warns the user when pressure exceeds tolerance limits by color change. With the visual cue, the user can understand it's time to replace the liner to fit his residual limb deformation.
- Image Credits
- Images: Xuerong Cai, Ruikun Pan, Yanyun Wu, Longyu Gong
