Development of an Auxiliary Device for X-ray Examinations Using 3D Printing and Evaluation of Its Usefulness

Abstract

Background/Objectives: An auxiliary device was developed using 3D printing and its usefulness and quality performance were evaluated to improve the speed, stability, and accuracy of plain X-ray exams that require changing the central axis of the human body according to anatomical positions. Methods/Statistical analysis: The device was fabricated by assembling commercially available parts after printing the design model with a 3D printer. In terms of performance, the stability of the device was evaluated by tensile tests with a Universal Testing Machine, and the speed and accuracy were evaluated by simulations. Findings: The developed auxiliary device enabled patients to maintain accurate positions at any location on the examination table and provided features such as 360° rotation and fast and easy attachment and detachment. The tensile strength of the auxiliary device was 45.5 kgf at a 67 mm displacement in the horizontal direction and 73.3 kgf at a 47.6 mm displacement in the vertical direction, indicating the stability of the device through quantitative figures. Improvements/Applications: The developed auxiliary device showed high clinical usefulness by enabling patients to change positions more accurately and stably than conventional fixed devices during plain X-ray exams according to changes in the central axis.