Podfo 3D printed insole
UK-based engineering solutions provider, KW Special Projects (KWSP), is leading a 750,000 GBP project to create a ‘while you wait’ service for personalised 3D printed insoles.
Funded in part by Innovate UK, KWSP is joined by experts from Newcastle University and advanced foot orthotics manufacturer, Podfo Ltd, with the overall goal of creating a functioning printing process for insoles by early 2019.
The idea is to develop a toolkit that allows clinicians to take a patient’s prescribed design based on their individual sole and gait measurements, and 3D print a custom orthotic on-site, considerably shortening the current time taken to produce insoles.
“This highly-innovative project demonstrates the significant benefits AM (additive manufacturing) can deliver in the medical sector,” KWSP’s Managing Director, Kieron Salter explained. “We will tackle the project by providing new thinking on two fronts. First of all, we intend to exploit nascent technologies to significantly reduce the time it takes to produce these parts using AM, alongside reducing the overall development cost.
“Secondly, we are looking to provide a new set of tools for the clinician, allowing on-the-spot measuring with much higher accuracy, thanks to the use of Computer Aided Manufacture data. This means the process is a lot more streamlined and efficient than the current method of waiting for delivery.”
KWSP additive manufacturing facility.
Consortium member, Podfo introduced the world’s first 3D printed foot orthotics more than three years ago. Podfo uses patient-specific data to create highly-customised fitted insoles that are designed to re-align a patient’s foot, correct posture or address other medical needs.
“We are delighted to combine our expertise with other industry leaders, in order to produce a new, smarter way of creating orthotics, placing more control for a defined orthosis in the hand of the clinicians,” Jari Pallari, Innovations Director at Podfo added. “The boost that patients will receive from having prescription insoles made while you wait can’t be understated. A lot of people rely on them to ensure they can walk comfortably and help reduce the strain from a broad spectrum of medical issues.”
