Prótese de membros em pássaros: estudo de caso de aplicação da biomimética e impressão 3D

Abstract

The research initially identified opportunities in veterinary medicine when we saw the possible creation and application of new mutilated animal prostheses and examples of projects with biomimetic principles, especially those that make use of 3D printing. The objective of this work was the application of concepts of Biomimetics in the development of a piece produced by 3D printing technology, for application on birds with mutilation, since they are usually sacrificed when they break or lose one of their legs. Research methods, visits to veterinary clinics and 3D printing techniques were used in the process. As a result of the study, advantages were obtained in having a prosthesis made to measure, among them: the reduction of the number of euthanasia in mutilated animals, the use of biodegradable material in the preparation of the prosthesis, greater animal comfort, better adaptation, easy handling of the veterinarian for the fitting of the prosthesis into the animal. This opens up opportunities for the application of this technology in other cases of mutilation, accidents, or diseases that can cause in animals, be they birds or mammals.