Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore and bring to light all of the ways that 3D printing has been used in the development of limb prostheses. Three-dimensional printing (also known as additive manufacturing or rapid prototyping) is a method of fabricating plastic or metal parts that became widely available in the last 10 years with the release of 3D printing services and inexpensive consumer grade 3D printers. The use of 3D printing for prosthetic applications has the potential for improving the personalization and accessibility of limb prostheses while lowering the cost and prosthesis weight. There is a trend in the literature for researchers to use 3D printing, but it is not often the main focus of a study, so it can be challenging to find emerging techniques and best practices. In this Special Issue, we are inviting researchers and clinicians to contribute journal articles or technical notes specifically on the 3D printing aspect of their research according to the scope below:

3D printing of prostheses or related components (upper and lower limb), including powered (e.g., myoelectric or robotic) and unpowered (e.g., body powered or cosmetic). Components could be a particular part of a prosthesis or a related system (e.g., sensory feedback system or decorative covering);

3D-printed prosthetic sockets (upper and lower limb, temporary or definitive);

Evaluation of 3D printed prostheses or related devices including material, part, biocompatibility, performance, and safety testing as well as outcomes measured from the use of the prosthesis by a person with limb difference;

Development of new 3D-printed materials and manufacturing methods for limb prostheses (e.g., using 3D prints as an intermediate step for creating molds for casting, exploration of flexible or soft materials, embedding electronics or sensors into 3D-printed parts, etc.).

Please feel free to contact the editorial office (prosthesis@mdpi.com) if you are interested to contribute a feature paper, or have any questions on submission.

Prosthesis Editorial Office