Kenyan company use 3D printing to make low-cost prostheses

DW (English)

An innovative 3D printing technique is simplifying prosthesis production in Kenya. Smartphone scans ensure a perfect fit, making customized prosthetic solutions more affordable.

Transcript

00:00In Africa alone, around 5 million people live with amputated limbs.

00:05Cindy Chirotic from Kenya lost a leg in a motorcycle accident.

00:15I faced stigmatization, losing part of the body.

00:21Even the image of yourself changes.

00:24And I was thinking how people, me myself again, I was dying of depression.

00:31A 3D printed prosthetic leg has helped her enjoy her garden again.

00:39I caught the free knee joint and the single multi-axis foot.

00:45I think I'm comfortable and confident working with it.

00:49Prothia is a Nairobi-based company specializing in 3D printed prosthetics.

00:54The wearer's residual limb is scanned with a smartphone to ensure a good fit.

00:59Then the image data is collected and processed in a design software.

01:04A prototype is created before taking shape in the 3D printer layer by layer.

01:10We have significant customization based on the scanning of the patient's limb.

01:19This increases comfort for the patient.

01:22We can have the prosthetic made within 24 hours.

01:27And what's more, they're significantly cheaper than conventional models.

01:31He's still getting used to them.

01:33But it's good news for Stephen Ochieng.

01:36Time to hit the road.

01:37Time to hit the road.

01:38Time to hit the road.

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