Colvenkar S, Alwala AM, Pss T, Bharadwaj S, Ahmed MS. 3D-Printed Ergonomically Designed Feeding Aid for Patients With Limited Manual Dexterity.
Cureus 2023;
15:e37089. [PMID:
37168196 PMCID:
PMC10166399 DOI:
10.7759/cureus.37089]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-eating is a difficult task when hand and finger movements are restricted. Many patients find difficulty in holding utensils because of slender handles. It is essential to have a customized handle that will allow a better grip on traditional feeding aid. When the handle is customized to the patient's hands and fingers, patients will have better control while eating. This reduces their dependency on others, thus helping to regain their lost self-esteem. This technical report describes a simple method of fabricating a three-dimensional (3D)-printed ergonomically designed handle for a feeding aid from materials readily available in the dental office.
Collapse