Local 3D production of high-quality, low-cost prosthetics in low-income countries

Ugani Prosthetics, Belgium: Develops affordable prosthetics for low-income countries using 3D printers and smartphones. Trained technicians and established workshops, helping over 100 patients in five countries from 2021 to 2023.

Ugani Prosthetics, a start-up company based in Belgium, has developed an innovative workflow to produce affordable prosthetics targeted at persons in low-income countries. Ugani utilizes standard table-top 3D printers and smartphones as a scanner, which substantially reduces costs compared to regular production methods. At the same time, Ugani trains local orthopaedic technicians and supports them in setting up their own prosthetics workshops. Since 2021, Ugani has helped more than 100 patients in five countries, and has established a workshop in Nairobi.

Problems Targeted

Only 5–10 per cent of amputees in low-income countries have access to a prosthetic.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Ugani Prosthetics offers an innovative solution by using open-source tools and 3D technology to produce affordable and high-quality prosthetics and braces for above knee, below knee, lower arm, wrist, fingers, elbow, knee, ankle, and more. By using affordable table-top 3D printer-technology and a smartphone as a 3D scanner, setup costs are greatly reduced and quality prosthetics can be produced in a matter of days. The company also employs robotic simulation to ensure long-time usage. Another advantage of the Ugani method is the increased accessibility of these devices. Due to the easy digital workflow requiring only a smartphone, trained prosthetists can travel anywhere, scan the patient in his or her own home, and deliver a finished product within a couple of days. The second pillar of the model is the training of local orthopaedic staff and managers in workshops to set up a sustainable business model, thus supporting local entrepreneurship based on high-quality technology and a global support network. Because Ugani´s technology is mobile, allowing for distributed patient care even in remote or conflict areas, an orthopaedic workshop can be setup at a cost of less than $10,000. After starting in Belgium in 2021, Ugani further established itself in Kenya, where it produced 70 prosthetics in its first six months.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

To gain revenues, Ugani Prosthetics sells training units for its technology, together with a 3D pack, which contains all the required tools to launch a digital prosthetic workshop. In addition, Ugani has launched a containerized solution for regions where there is high demand. It also plans to expand its model swiftly to other countries, including such as Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and is seeking to collaborate with major organizations such as UNICEF. (Awardee 2024)

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