D.I.Y LOWER-LIMB PROSTHETIC

Reclaiming Accessibility Lower-limb Prosthetics within Rural Communities, in Developing Countries

This project turned start-up is dedicated to reclaiming prosthetic care for amputee's that live in rural communities within developing countries. Amputees in these communities often cannot afford professional prosthetic care or live too far away from existing services. While new technologies and services are currently being integrated into prosthetic services in developing countries, these developments often don't reach those most in need, with up to 95% of amputees going without access to care. Compounding this problem, devices produced with advanced technologies such as 3D printing are often difficult to repair and not always suited to rural environments. Faced with these limitations, amputees find innovative D.I.Y. responses which are tailored to local materials and traditional practices.

The aim for this project was to evaluate the technologies, materials and processes currently accessible in specific locations within Africa (Sudan, South Sudan and Cameroon), India (West Bengaland Jharkhand) and Cambodia (Ratanakiri and Battambang) and use this information to develop D.I.Y. prosthetic designs that are informed by current medical 'best practice'. The resulting designs seek to give amputees independence and control over the construction of their own prosthetics, without dependence on health care practitioners and NGO organisations for ongoing prosthetic care.

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The project uses visual ethnography to gain an in-depth understanding of practices of re-purposing, repairing and crafting within these rural communities and builds on this understanding through extensive prototyping. Project outcomes include the design of a new D.I.Y. lower-limb prosthetic and an associated D.I.Y manual that proposes an alternative process for providing best practice prosthetic care to rural communities within Africa, India and Cambodia.

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Final Design Manual

The final design manual is currently un- available to the public as its still undergoing research

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