Bespoke Custom 3D Printed Prosthetic Coverings

3D Printing & Imaging

I'm a word nerd who loves to geek out on how emerging technology affects the lexicon. I was an editor on the first 40 volumes of MAKE, and I love shining light on the incredible makers in our community. In particular, covering art is my passion — after all, art is the first thing most of us ever made. When not fawning over perfect word choices, I can be found on the nearest mountain, looking for untouched powder fields and ideal alpine lakes.

Contact me at snowgoli@gmail.com or via @snowgoli.

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January 15th, 2013 8

In our Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing, we have a section on the innovative uses of 3D printers in the field of medicine, including San Francisco-based Bespoke Innovations:

Bucking the typical one-style-suites-all model of conventional prosthetics, San Francisco-based Bespoke Innovations makes custom coverings, called Fairings, that surround an existing prosthetic leg, recreating the user’s natural leg shape through 3D scanning, designing, and printing. Conceived by industrial designer Scott Summit and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kenneth Trauner, Bespoke Fairings are designed in collaboration with the patient, aiming to reflect the individual by offering a number of material and pattern options, including leather, chrome plating, and tattoos.

Our local public radio station, KQED, did an interesting, short feature on Bespoke Innovations this week on their Kitchen Sisters show titled “The Making Of“: