3D Scanning - Low-Cost Technologies and Application in Assistive Products

People with cerebral palsy could have a wide range of postural changes, the most characteristics are resulting from spasticity. Custom orthosis use can be prescribed in this context aiming to increase functional performance and other therapeutic goals. Additive manufacturing is an alternative to custom assistive products fabrication, such as orthoses. In this context 3D scanning is an important step, considering that the user anatomy is a geometric reference to product development in 3D CAD for further fabrication. However, the 3D scanners have high costs, one of the factors that hinder the popularization of this solution. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the use of low-cost systems to perform 3D scanning in the context of custom orthoses development for wrist, hand, and fingers to be fabricated by additive manufacturing. A three-phase method was proposed as follows: definition of tools and systems to be evaluated, the definition of parameters for assessment, and definition of protocols for using 3D scanning systems; evaluation of low-cost 3D scanning systems using a standard piece; and evaluation of low-cost 3D scanning systems applied to the context of orthosis for wrist, hand and fingers.