3D Printer
Funding provided: $26,358
Nowadays, technological innovation plays a crucial role in improving rehabilitation care, particularly in the manufacturing of prostheses. That is why, in 2024, the REA Foundation funded the acquisition of a Markforged Carbon 3D Printer (Mark Two), enabling the Assistive Technology Program at the Institut Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal to modernize its manufacturing techniques.
Cost reduction for greater accessibility
Traditional prosthesis manufacturing is often expensive, with costs exceeding $1,000. However, 3D printing can significantly reduce the cost of certain prosthetic components or parts, sometimes to less than $100, which improves accessibility for many patients.
“Certain very specific components are rarely produced due to low demand, leading to high prices and long waiting times. 3D printing allows us to design them at a lower cost, significantly improving the quality of life for our patients, who previously had limited prosthetic solutions available to them.”
Félix Quentin Desrosiers, Orthotist-Prosthetist at IRGLM
Reduced manufacturing delays
Another major advantage of 3D printing is the speed of production. Patients can thus try their prosthesis more quickly, facilitating better adaptation.
“Research shows that the sooner a patient can try a prosthesis, the higher their success rate in rehabilitation. Having our own 3D printer allows us to reduce intermediaries and drastically speed up production, enabling patients to begin their prosthetic training sooner.”
Félix Quentin Desrosiers, Orthotist-Prosthetist at IRGLM
Innovative prostheses tailored to specific needs
3D printing allows the creation of custom prostheses, tailored to the individual needs of patients. Many prosthetic parts are difficult to obtain on the market, or even non-existent, due to lower demand. Thanks to this technology, it is now possible to offer personalized solutions to IRGLM users for previously inaccessible professional and recreational activities. Among these prostheses are:
- Devices that assist with returning to work, such as a prosthesis specially designed for a butcher, allowing them to resume their profession.
- Partial hand prostheses and fingertip prostheses
- Models incorporating magnets to facilitate the grasping of metallic objects
- Prostheses specialized for swimming, golf, billiards, or video games. For example, a musician was able to resume playing the transverse flute and perform concerts thanks to a customized prosthesis.
3D printing also allows for the design of smaller, lighter, and better-suited parts to meet patients’ needs.
With over 850 hours of printing completed, the IRGLM’s 3D printer now makes it possible to produce custom-made prosthetic devices in greater volume, with shorter turnaround times and at lower cost. This innovative technological advancement helps better meet the specific needs of patients who were previously underserved, without replacing more traditional manufacturing methods.
