USER-CENTERED DESIGN OF LIMB PROSTHESES: A NEW UNIVERSITY COURSE DESIGNED TO SPARK INTEREST IN ORTHOTICS & PROSTHETICS FOR BIOENGINEERING STUDENTS

• DOI: 10.33137/cpoj.v6i2.41789
• Publication Date: 2023-12-22T16:21:23Z
• Authors: Goeran Fiedler; Joseph Samosky
• Keywords: 3D Printing; Orthopedic surgery; Outreach; Design Thinking; Medical technology; Stakeholder Perspectives; R855-855.5; Prototyping; User-Centered Design; RD701-811; Education

There is a current need to increase recruitment in orthotics and prosthetics, promising approach awareness, interest cross-disciplinary engagement O&P among students of allied disciplines such as bioengineering. We describe new interdisciplinary course we jointly developed at the University Pittsburgh deployed for first time spring 2023. The was built on core foci human-centered design, design thinking, experiential learning, 3D printing, creative problem-solving prototyping. leveraged real-world project-based learning that included early ongoing involvement student teams with clients who used prosthetics. explored creating environment which bioengineering were motivated learn about field by partnering investigate their unmet prosthetic needs invent solutions, computer-aided printing key enabling technologies. Each team produced an individually designed fitted device specific application person limb difference. Student feedback positive throughout several recipients expressing enthusiasm opportunity work actual patients. Several stated new-found pursuing career field. believe this sort class offering could be implemented many institutions host graduate programs, raise awareness profession attract more better prepared applicants. Article PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/41789/32273 How To Cite: Fiedler G, Samosky J. User-centered prostheses: university spark & prosthetics students. Canadian Prosthetics Orthotics Journal. 2023; Volume 6, Issue 2, No.2. https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v6i2.41789 Corresponding Author: Goeran Fiedler, PhDDepartment Rehabilitation Science Technology, School Health Sciences, Pittsburgh, United States.E-Mail: [e-mail] ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1532-1248