Projeto e fabricação de prótese de mão equina por manufatura aditiva

Abstract

Infection in animals is a subject of great importance for veterinary medicine. Horses, like humans, are vulnerable to infectious diseases caused by various agents, mainly bacteria. Despite advances in veterinary medicine, such as the development of bactericidal substances and antibiotics, in many cases, limb amputation is the only solution to maintain the animal’s life. However, this is considered the last resort due to the restriction of mobility required post-operatively and the complexity of the surgery, which can lead to a poor prognosis for amputated horses and, therefore, many end up suffering euthanasia. Thanks to prosthetic technology, euthanasia can be avoided, allowing the extension of the reproductive life of horses with high commercial value or even preserving animals that have sentimental value for their owners. A prosthesis is designed to replace a part of the body that has had its function compromised. To do this, it must be resistant to withstand the loads that will be applied to it and, at the same time, flexible enough to allow natural movements, comfort, and avoid skin abrasion. Therefore, studying structural behavior is essential to ensure the piece is safe and performs its functions as desired in the animal’s body. The present work aimed to design and manufacture an equine hand prosthesis using additive manufacturing, with an estimated useful life of one year, proposing a fast and affordable manufacturing alternative guaranteeing safety, comfort, and functionality for the horse. Through mechanical tests on specimens with different manufacturing directions, the mechanical properties of the printed material were obtained. Through simulations using the finite element method, the geometry was structurally validated. Manufacturing the final model took approximately seven days, and a filament cost of approximately R$135.