Design and performance evaluation of 3D printed writing and typing assistive devices: A pragmatic single participant study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: 3D Printing can be used to make prosthetic and assistive devices for the physically disabled with the advantages of being affordable and bespoke. A physically challenged test participant was selected who required assistive devices for writing and typing. The participant had a pilocyti c astrocytoma in the left peduncle in 2013, which was successfully removed. However, some right arm motor function was lost decreasing writing and typing ability, and forcing adaptation of the left arm. Thus, 3D printed devices were developed to assist the right arm with writing and typing. METHOD: The study employed an Alternative Treatment Design, in which writing and typing tests occurred every day for the first three days and then the fifth and seventh days. Two devices were made for writing and two for typing. RESULTS: The writing device that consisted of a 2-ring connected design (one finger fits into one ring and the writing utensil into the other) was 15% faster than without any aid on the right hand. Its use also showed the smallest average deviation from a template, 1.8 mm (0.07 in), offering the neatest handwriting quality for the right hand. Regarding typing, the design consisting of a ring and pointer was found to be 54% faster than using no assistive device on the right hand (when typing with right hand alone) and 30% faster than using no assistive device (when using both hands to type). DISCUSSION: The study can assist others who intend to produce assistive devices for writing and typing by not only providing ideas for bespoke designs but also the ways in which these assistive devices can be assessed.