This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the mechanical behavior and performance of a 3D-printed wrist-hand orthosis using PLA material. The primary objective was to evaluate the orthosis's ability to withstand various loads during flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction movements, while ensuring optimal design through topology optimization. Both experimental and numerical analyses were conducted, employing ANSYS Workbench for finite element simulations. The results indicated that the orthosis could endure significant loads without exceeding elastic limits; however, the tests revealed critical issues related to alignment and support design that led to stress concentrations and premature failure. The findings underscore the necessity for more accurate testing protocols, focusing on alignment corrections and balanced load distributions. Future work will involve refining the numerical model to include detailed material behavior, optimizing the orthosis design further, and validating its performance through clinical experiments under real-life loading conditions. This research contributes valuable insights into the development of effective and resilient orthotic devices tailored for individual patient needs.
Amor et al. (Tue,) studied this question.