Manipal: A revolutionary 3D printing facility for artificial limb manufacturing at “Hastha”, Dept of Orthopaedics, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal was inaugurated by Dr. H Vinod Bhat, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, Manipal here on July 20. “Hastha”, the Centre for Congenital Hand Differences is established under Manipal Academy of Higher Education through the unit of Hand and Microsurgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Kasturba Medical College & Hospital, Manipal. The Chief Co-ordinator for this Centre is Dr. Anil K Bhat, Professor and Head, Department of Orthopaedics, Manipal.
3D printable prosthetics are the new revolution in manufacturing artificial limbs, especially for children, in order to develop the prostheses that are innovative, customisable and cheap. It can be replaced often without incurring much cost. The 3D printing (manufacturing) prosthesis can be task specific and the child can have many such prostheses for each task like activities of daily living, for playing or for school work. These prostheses are customisable to any level of amputation whether above elbow, below elbows or even with the absence or shortening of fingers. The prosthesis which takes few hours to print in the machine is presently mechanical in nature, lightweight comes in many colours and can be easily altered in shape and size.
These prostheses will be printed through “Hastha”, the Centre for Congenital Hand Differences at Artificial Limb Centre, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal and the parents of children requiring such prosthesis can contact the Orthopaedic Out-patient Department, Room No.4, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal (0820 2922231).
Dr. Poornima Baliga, Pro VC, MAHE; Dr. Pragna Rao, Dean, KMC Manipal; C G Muthana, COO, Kasturba Hospital and Teaching Hospitals and Dr. Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent were present.
