The bamboo support for a transtibial prosthetic leg. Photograph courtesy of the Waag Society.
The Low Cost Prosthesis (LCP) project is developing a transtibial prosthetic leg using a 3D printer to create the joints and bamboo for the supports. The project aims at keeping production costs of each device below $50 because of the ease of access to the low-cost and relatively low-tech materials.
The project is being funded by the Dutch Institute of Sustainable Technology through the Smart Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Intervention Technologies (SPRINT) initiative; the Waag Society, an institute for art, science, and technology based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and the House of Natural Fiber (HONF), Jakarta, Indonesia, which focuses on cultural development and innovation.
The first prototype is under construction in Amsterdam; the development team includes orthopedic surgeons, biomedical engineers, and staff from the fabrication lab in Jakarta.
The joints will be made with 3D plastic molds and finished using a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine. The section for the tibia and fibula will be made of bamboo, which is simple, flexible and lightweight, and can be repaired and replaced without requiring technical expertise.
