Spinal braces are external support structures designed to help correct the inclination or support the human spine and are often utilized for the treatment of spinal deformities. The successful treatment of these spinal deformities is very much dependent on their early utilization and compliance by the patients. Thus, the use of the spinal brace from a young age is crucial in their effectiveness. Due to the movement restrictions imposed by the spinal brace, children are generally not inclined to use them. Therefore, the need for a lightweight optimized spinal brace that imposes only the necessary movement restrictions on the patient is critical in making spinal braces a more attractive treatment. The design of lightweight spinal braces can be achieved through a combination of optimization procedures and the use of 3D printing techniques. In particular, the methodology of Topology Optimization is utilized on an advanced numerical model of a spinal brace, producing optimized braces and achieving significant reduction in material. The formulation used in the Topology Optimization procedure was the classic approach, involving the minimization of compliance. Additionally, the proposed use of 3D printing technology for the construction of the spinal brace enables the minimization of geometry restrictions imposed on the Topology Optimization problem formulation, allowing more design freedom during the optimization procedure.

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Topology Optimization of 3D-Printed Spinal Braces

  • George Kazakis,
  • Iasonas Rossetos,
  • Stefanos Voulgaris,
  • Nikos D. Lagaros,
  • Charis Gantes,
  • Konstantinos Soultanis,
  • Dimitrios Galanis

摘要

Spinal braces are external support structures designed to help correct the inclination or support the human spine and are often utilized for the treatment of spinal deformities. The successful treatment of these spinal deformities is very much dependent on their early utilization and compliance by the patients. Thus, the use of the spinal brace from a young age is crucial in their effectiveness. Due to the movement restrictions imposed by the spinal brace, children are generally not inclined to use them. Therefore, the need for a lightweight optimized spinal brace that imposes only the necessary movement restrictions on the patient is critical in making spinal braces a more attractive treatment. The design of lightweight spinal braces can be achieved through a combination of optimization procedures and the use of 3D printing techniques. In particular, the methodology of Topology Optimization is utilized on an advanced numerical model of a spinal brace, producing optimized braces and achieving significant reduction in material. The formulation used in the Topology Optimization procedure was the classic approach, involving the minimization of compliance. Additionally, the proposed use of 3D printing technology for the construction of the spinal brace enables the minimization of geometry restrictions imposed on the Topology Optimization problem formulation, allowing more design freedom during the optimization procedure.