Natalia Clarke and Bernice Yeo
In a world where one-size-fits-all solutions fall short, Natalia Clarke and Bernice Yeo are harnessing their skills to test custom 3D-printed orthotic insoles for diabetic patients, helping to pave the way for more personalised healthcare.
During their time in high school, Natalia Clarke and Bernice Yeo were drawn to areas such as biology, math, and problem-solving – with Bernice also having an interest in design. While initially perceiving the field of engineering as being limited to the bounds of civil and structural engineering, upon discovering the realm of biomedical engineering, the pair found that this was the perfect combination of their interests.
Natalia and Bernice’s aligned sentiment towards biomedical engineering led to them both specialising in it through the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (BE(Hons)) programme, and as they’ve now headed into their fourth year of the degree, it’s brought them together for their Final Year Project.
The Final Year Project is designed to give students the chance to apply the theoretical knowledge and skills that they’ve acquired over the course of their BE(Hons) programme. Students are tasked with developing and proposing a solution to a complex research problem – mirroring how they might handle the problem in their future career.
Natalia and Bernice’s Final Year Project involves testing the durability of 3D-printed lattice orthotic insoles, based on previous work by PhD student Dayna Cracknell, and under supervision of Professors Mark Battley and Justin Fernandez, and Dr Maedeh Amirpour. Their goal is to understand how long the orthotic insole will maintain overtime.
“A big proportion of diabetic patients’ problems is neuropathy, which is a side effect of diabetes when patients experience a loss of sensitivity in their limbs. This poses significant issues as changes in walking patterns can go unnoticed, leading to the development of ulcers. So, this insole will help alleviate the pressures and prevent the ulceration for diabetic patients”, says Bernice.
“For our durability testing, we’ve used an Instron machine at the Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing and Design lab at the Newmarket Campus, to do cyclic testing and analyse how the behaviour of the insoles changes over time."
Through a series of cyclic tests – where we repeatedly indent our samples to mimic walking patterns – we’re able to observe the changes in mechanical properties over many cycles.
“Our goal is to do 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 cycles. We’ll then measure the force-displacement relationship over time and see how it changes as the material wears down. A force-displacement relationship can measure how much a material deforms, or displaces, when a certain amount of force is applied to it. Hopefully, following this we’ll be able to quantify how long the insoles will last in practise”, adds Natalia.
The evolution of 3D-printing is transforming the healthcare industry, among many others, and enables the creation of customised products that address unmet needs and improve lives.
Natalia and Bernice are playing their part this transformation through their Final Year Project, with their research and work on this orthotic insole exemplifying how innovative applications of 3D-printing can deliver tailored solutions that truly enhance quality of life for individuals.
“Our insoles contain 3D-printed lattices filled with fluid and are customised to the contours of each patient’s foot. The insoles have varying lattice densities – low densities in areas of high pressure, and increased density in areas with lower pressure, requiring more support”, says Bernice.
“This fluid-filled insole hasn’t been done before, and in terms of footwear insoles in general, there's not that much out there that isn't just a typical casting method. Traditional insoles made from a casting method involve taking a mould of the patient's foot, producing insoles with uniform properties throughout. Our insoles aim to improve pressure distribution, to reduce the effects of the patient’s condition and enhance overall comfort”.
There are many other applications for this insole that aren’t just for diabetic patients, such as for musculoskeletal problems that result from pressure in the feet. 3D-printing is cheaper and faster than current methods. I think it has the potential to help a lot of people.
Looking back on their project, Natalia and Bernice believe that the problem-solving skills they’ve developed will be essential as they enter the engineering field beyond university.
“This project has taught me so much about perseverance and problem-solving; two crucial aspects of being a good engineer. No project ever goes fully to plan, and this project has taught me how to be adaptable and apply my skills to tackle any problem that comes our way. As a graduate, this experience will help me in all the future projects I’m a part of, no matter which area of engineering I end up in.”
“Our Final Year Project has extended my skills and knowledge in so many ways, particularly in the realm of problem-solving. As problem-solving is the core of engineering, my experience gained from this project will better prepare me to tackle any challenges I’ll face as a graduate”, adds Bernice.
“At the beginning of our project, it was quite challenging because there was a lot of information overload, especially at the early stages. I think something that really helps is having a partner that's really passionate about the project so that you can figure things out together.”
“We would also like to give a special thank you to our supervisor Dr Maedeh Amirpour, and PhD candidate Dayna Cracknell, for all their help and guidance throughout the project.”
“I think if you are considering studying engineering, I would just say go for it if you like a challenge”, says Natalia. “Don’t be scared of the reputation for how difficult it is. I think it's a really cool challenge which is very rewarding when you get to see the knowledge you’ve gained come to life”.