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CRP Technology (Modena, Italy) and MHOX Design, a design research group with a focus on generative design and 3D printing, in collaboration with Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli (IOR, Bologna, Italy), are one of 69 winning projects under the WORTH Partnership Project II 3rd Call. The project, Generative Orthoses, was awarded for its use of additive technologies and high-performance composite materials to reshape orthopedic care.
The WORTH II 3rd Call saw record-breaking participation, with 142 applications and 320 applicants from 34 EU-COSME-associated countries. After a rigorous evaluation process, 69 projects were selected for funding, featuring 158 partners from 25 countries across Europe.
Over the past 8 years, MHOX, CRP Technology, and Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli have worked together to develop high-performance bespoke orthoses using body scanning, 3D digital design, CRP Technology’s glass fiber-reinforced Windform GT composite material and the additive powder bed fusion (PBF) process. The project incorporates biomimetic design and advanced manufacturing techniques, improving both form and function while providing essential support, rehabilitation and postural correction.
Using 3D printing in generative orthotics involves several major phases:
- Scanning of the patient’s limb
- Generating the 3D model of the orthosis
- Construction of the orthosis using Windform materials and additive manufacturing.
MHOX Design handled the first two stages by developing and using software designed for the automated management of systems for mass product customization.
The procedure requires the digital uploading of the patient’s limb that the orthosis is to fit, using scanning processes based mainly on infrared technology or structured light. The scanning process takes place directly at the doctor, thanks to the portability of the sensor and its plug-and-play features.
Notably, generative design techniques and its simulation of biological phenomena make it possible to reproduce the shape of the orthosis and customize it to fit the patient’s body for subsequent 3D printing. This has led to cost and time reduction, MHOX notes, and the final result mirrors the affected limb without the need for invasive medical examinations.
CRP Technology used Windform GT, a glass fiber-reinforced polyamide for orthoses production. Its elasticity, impermeability and durability, as well as its ability to flex for extended period of time without the risk of damage made it ideal for this type of application. In addition, Windform GT’s strength-to-weight ratio and dimensional stability ebsure that the orthotic devices remain lightweight and dirable while also being suitable for direct contact with the skin, as it is a skin-proof material.
CRP notes that the use of PBF is also significant, not just in terms of production speed, product performance and fit, and customization, but also regarding aesthetics for the user.
All developed orthosis solutions have been subjected to a series of tests to assess their performance. The experimentation stage studied static mode, static mode applied to the patient and dynamic mode on the patient. The results have confirmed this new application for Windform materials and technology.
CRP Technology’s research into the manufacturing of generative orthotics has been met with great interest by industry professionals. The same method of construction can be used to make orthoses for upper and lower limbs, plaster casts and prosthetic fairings. CRP Technology and MHOX Design are working alongside professional physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists to investigate the construction of solutions for patients with peroneal nerve dysfunction, resulting in drop foot further to injury, leading to a “slapping” gait.
Looking forward, CRP Technology, MHOX and Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli continue to refine and automate the design processes, ensuring that the production of fully customized orthotic devices becomes scalable and market-ready for a broader patient base.
