“People constantly remind me I can’t do it”
“It's hard to accept. It almost pulls you into a self-hate spiral and self-pity.”
“I don't want this to be my only identity.”
“It takes a lot of courage to accept your body any way and have something so drastic happen to you is extremely difficult.”
“It’s harder during summer as it sweats more and feels more uncomfortable.”
“I sometimes feel my amputated limb is still there.”
“Not getting the mental help to cope with this life changing experience has been a regret”
"Too much fear of walking not enough confidence"
"I don't know how to manage phantom pain"
iNTERVIEW QUOTES FROM AMPUTEES .
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Amputees want custom designer 3D printed coveprosthetics.
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Physiotherapy is extremely important for helping with pain and building strength.
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Amputees want empathy but not be seen as limited.
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Vocational cues and support groups are important for motivation.
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Rehabilitation especially for mental and emotional health is necessary
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Amputees want to feel “normal” and be able to engage in daily activities.
KEY INSIGHTS.
INITIAL IDEATION.
I started with some rough sketches to ideate on how the prosthetic and fitness product would look like.
The initial design language I went with was faceted, geometric, asymmetrical forms. However, after getting feedback from some target audience, I decided to change the form to more a more organic form with the panel resembling muscles as they weren't comfortable with how robotic and sharp the magnetic panels that would go around the prosthetic looked like.
FINAL PHYSICAL DESIGN.
With the final design solution, some key things I wanted to address and focus on were time, cost, visual design of the prosthesis, ability for users to customize, people's perceptions towards prosthesis, reducing sweating in the socket, and fitness.
UPDATED DESIGN AND MOOD BOARD
After feedback, I decided to go with a more organic form. Some elements I wanted was an outer shell, making the prosthetic leg shape resembling human muscles, having the outer shell material be clear to show the composition of the leg inside, having custom panel with different materials.
Extended is a 3D printed, designer cost efficient prosthetic leg that allows users to customize their prosthetics.
It is designed considering future trends like 3D scanning, 3D printing and customization.
ROLE OF CUSTOMIZATION
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The appearance of a prosthetic or prosthetic cover affects amputees’ mental health and their relationships with their artificial limb. There is a strong connection between the visual aspect of the prosthesis and the acceptance of the prosthesis by patients.
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According to research, the appearance of the prosthetic one wants early in the process is likely different than the one they might want later on. "In the initial stages , they benefit from and desire realistic looking limbs but in the long term, a prosthetic device that doesn’t look like the lost limb, that looks like a robotic device, might benefit psychologically." - Dr Sansoni.
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Amputees who are satisfied with their prosthetic limbs report better quality life and lower amounts of self-disgust associated with their amputation.
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In one 2018 study of 51 traumatic limb amputees at a rehabilitation center, those who scored higher on a measure of prosthesis satisfaction had lower scores on tests of psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and depression.
MARKET SIZE/ OPPORTUNITY AREA
9.93 billion $
The global prosthetics and orthotics market size was estimated at USD 9.93 billion in 2021.
15.42 billion $
It is projected to reach over USD 15.42 billion by 2030.
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The current market lacks customizable prosthetics that are time and cost efficient. There’s opportunity in designing custom and designer prosthetics that are at an affordable price range for majority of our target audience.
CURRENT INNOVATION IN THE SPACE.
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Under Armour has developed sleepwear that emits infrared energy for faster muscle recovery following an intense workout.
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Soliyarn is working on flexible sensors woven into self heating gloves for the US military.
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Harvard’s Biodesign Lab is developing next generation soft wearable exo-skeleton that use innovative textiles to have a more comfortable and compliant to human body movements.
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Sarcos Robotics Guardian XO is a battery powered suited intended for construction sites, mines, factories. Built enhance productivity, and help lift heavy weights.
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“E-dermis” designed by John Hopkins is an electronic skin that recreates tactile sensations including pain to restore a sense of touch to amputees.
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According to the American Orthotics and Prosthetics Association, the average prosthetic costs between $1500 to $50,000. 3D printed prosthetics cost as little as $50. 3D printers can create a highly precise finished part in as little as a day.
TREND RESEARCH.
Future healthcare Trends:
Connected Fabrics , AI in Healthcare , Full Body Exoskeletons , Touch Sensitive Materials
3D printing in the ER , Adaptive Wearables
TARGET AUDIENCE FOR THE PROJECT.
39- 59 year old amputees with below knee amputations.
The age group of 39- 59 year old, have the highest incidence of amputation because of the effects of peripheral vascular disease (PVD), atherosclerosis, and vascular changes related to diabetes mellitus. Below knee amputation is the most commonly occurring type of amputation.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE.
The objective of this project is to improve amputee satisfaction with their prosthetic, empower amputees and create customizable and affordable prosthetics using upcoming and existing technology and through visual design. The project’s aim is to look at the overall amputee experience and help them. The end goal is to change the perception of prosthetics and make it more than a medical device.
THE PROBLEM.
There are around 1 million amputations every year globally. About 41% people who have undergone an amputation suffer from PTSD, depression, anxiety, phantom pain and reduced quality of self-esteem and life. Research shows amputees who are satisfied with their prosthetics, report less amount of self-disgust associated with their amputation. However, the current market lacks cost and time efficient prosthetics that focus on improving the perception of prosthetics.
Industrial design | 20 weeks | 2022 | Tools: Rhino, Fusion 360, Keyshot, Figma, AfterEffects
Extended is a 3D printed, customizable, designer cost efficient prosthetic leg that generates electricity as the amputee walks and helps reduce sweating in the socket. It allows users to customize the panels that go on their prosthetic leg, giving them the opportunity to change how it looks frequently. It is designed considering upcoming future technologies to empower amputees.
PROJECT OVERVIEW.
Extended.
/ a customizable prosthetic leg
SECONDARY RESEARCH INSIGHTS.
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There are more than 1 million annual limb amputations globally. WHO estimates that 30 million people are in need of prosthetics.
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About 41% of people who have undergone an amputation are at risk for anxiety (including PTSD), depression, substance use disorder, strained relationships and reduced quality of life.
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Besides Rehabilitation after amputation, amputees require regular care including physiotherapy, products to manage pain, sweating, swelling, physical exercise and prosthetic parts.
Adjustment
Coming to terms with the use of a prosthetic limb is an adjustment process, and individuals need different things from their covers and from their prosthetic designs at different stages of that process.
Time & Cost
Traditional prosthetics fit great when completed, but are expensive, have long lead times, and need to be replaced if the recipient is still growing.
Perceptions
Amputees likely go through a quasi-grieving process, broken into unique stages—and the appearance of the prosthetic greatly affects their acceptance of the device. Currently all the devices are very medical looking.
PRIMARY RESEARCH.
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3 Expert Interviews
15 Target Audience Interviews
Image sorting and cultural probe with users
The energy generated from the piezo electronic in the foot, is transferred to the fan in the socket (where the residual limb attaches to the prosthetic) to help reduce sweating in the socket region.
The panels around the shell are 3d printed and customizable and the amputee patients can choose different materials and colors for the panels.
The goal is to change the perception from it being a medical device to something more personal and customizable to the amputees.
Currently there aren't many products in the market that help amputees with workout, vocational therapy, rehabilitation. Extended Mirror is designed specifically to help amputees workout.
It also helps amputees with phantom pain by using mirror therapy.
The outer shell, covering the pylon, foot and the socket, is made of clear polycarbonate with a cloudy/matte finish.
THINKING ABOUT REHABILITATION AS A ROAD MAP.
Mid fidelity fitness mirror concept
Mirror Therapy, what it is and how it works.
After amputation, a large percentage of amputees struggle with phantom pain. Phantom pain is a painful sensation perceived in a body part that is no longer present subsequent to surgical or traumatic removal. Using mirror therapy for phantom pain allows you to receive visual feedback that the phantom limb is relaxing and moving and therefore offers phantom pain relief. The visual information received by the brain overpowers the proprioceptive information and thus allows the brain to think the limb is moving. This process is used by prosthetists and physiotherapists to help reduce the phantom pain in amputees along with other exercises.
