The Prosthetics and Orthotics Podcast
The Prosthetics and Orthotics Podcast is a deep dive into what 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing mean for prosthetics and orthotics. We’re Brent and Joris both passionate about 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing. We’re on a journey together to explore the digitization of prostheses and orthoses together. Join us! Have a question, suggestion or guest for us? Reach out. Or have a listen to the podcast here. The Prosthetic and Orthotic field is experiencing a revolution where manufacturing is being digitized. 3D scanning, CAD software, machine learning, automation software, apps, the internet, new materials and Additive Manufacturing are all impactful in and of themselves. These developments are now, in concert, collectively reshaping orthotics and prosthetics right now. We want to be on the cutting edge of these developments and understand them as they happen. We’ve decided to do a podcast to learn, understand and explore the revolution in prosthetics and orthotics.
The Prosthetics and Orthotics Podcast
Next Level 3D Printed Orthoses and Prostheses with Jan Rosicky
Jan describes how Invent Medical began as a ‘traditional’ fabrication business in the Czech Republic following the break-up of communism in the late 1980s. The organization slowly adopted technologies such as 3D printing, then introduced a series of digital technologies. ‘We gradually started to replace some of the old tools we had with digital technologies, and this enabled us to create more sophisticated designs and more advanced manufacturing processes… It allowed us to move to smarter and more efficient approaches,’ explains Jan. The company created more breathable, custom-fit cranial orthoses for babies, which allowed for more comfort for the patients, improving compliance. For Jan, this wasn’t possible without 3D printing.
Interestingly, the discussion also touches on Invent Medical’s global business operations, and how their markets differ in terms of challenges as well as opportunities, especially in the US and Europe. Jan also shares his experience about how 3D printing has revolutionized the O & P industry by making it possible to create prototypes rapidly and on-demand, as well as customized devices that are not only effective medically, but also more visually appealing than before. He emphasizes how Invent’s product development process is collaborative, with input from clinicians around the world, to tweak, refine, improve and test their product designs before they are marketed. The last part of the interview is a forward-looking view about the future of the O & P industry, with a strong advocacy for 3D printing technologies to revolutionize patient outcomes across the globe.
This episode is brought to you by Advanced 3D.
