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Function Based Design for Rapid Prototyping: A Medical Industry Application for an Ocular Speculum

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Publication date06/2012
Host publication13th Rapid Design, Prototyping & Manufacturing Conference: Proceedings of the
EditorsChris Bocking, Allan Rennie
Place of PublicationHigh Wycombe
PublisherCRDM Ltd
Pages45-53
Number of pages9
ISBN (print)978-0-9566643-2-7
<mark>Original language</mark>English
Event13th Rapid Design, Prototyping & Manufacturing Conference (RDPM 2012) - Lancaster, United Kingdom
Duration: 22/06/201222/06/2012

Conference

Conference13th Rapid Design, Prototyping & Manufacturing Conference (RDPM 2012)
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityLancaster
Period22/06/1222/06/12

Conference

Conference13th Rapid Design, Prototyping & Manufacturing Conference (RDPM 2012)
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityLancaster
Period22/06/1222/06/12

Abstract

This paper presents a design methodology targeted on specific functions that a product must perform during its entire life-cycle, with a particular emphasis on realising these functions using additive manufacturing (AM) applications. An ocular speculum is redesigned to reduce surgery time, complications, lower costs and increase customer compliance and functionality. The ocular speculum is a surgical device used for delivering intravitreal injections. Thus, special attention was given to those specific functions that relate to ergonomics of the product and diminishing complications of currently available models. AM is used to test functional prototype specimens in-vivo and for laboratory trials. AM technologies played a key role in manufacturing of the prototypes, fabricating the intricate shapes proposed by the constructive solutions in the FA stages. The case study has both research and industrial value, as it has been developed in collaboration with a UK-based medical device manufacturer. The research results gained validate and further recommend the proposed methodology for other product applications.