Electric wheelchairs make it easier for disabled and elderly people to live, move, interact, and participate in society. Moving a wheelchair in open spaces is relatively easy, but in closed and small spaces, maneuvering is difficult. Solutions to such problems for people with disabilities are applicable to a relatively small group of recipients and are mostly custom-made solutions, whose considerable cost is a significant barrier to accessibility. New technologies can provide an opportunity to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in this aspect. Using selected elements of complex automation and control systems, cost-effective solutions can be created that facilitate the functioning of people with disabilities. This paper presents an analysis of hazards and problems when maneuvering a wheelchair in narrow passageways, as well as the authors’ solution to this problem, and the concept and assumptions of a mechatronic anti-collision system based on 2D LiDAR laser scanners. This solution is composed of a proprietary 2D rotating scanner mechanism that ensures the acquisition of 3D images of the environment around the wheelchair. Preliminary tests of this solution yielded promising results. Further research will include miniaturization of the device.

Rapid prototyping is the technology of automatic freeform fabrication of physical objects from virtual CAD (computer aided design) models. For medical objects the models may be created using data from CT, MR or rotational angiography. We descriobe the case of a 83-year-old woman with essential bilateral hearing impairment as the effect of chronic otitis media. An individually fitted hearing aid was produced for the patient using stereolithography technology and vacuum casting based on data obtained during ear CT. Rapid prototyping may help in manufacturing individually adjusted biomedical prostheses, reducing the time of device production and improving its fitting.

Physical models of anatomical structures can be made using Additive Manufacturing (AM) or Subtractive Manufacturing (SM). The advantage of subtractive techniques over additive ones is the possibility of maintaining the homogeneity and consistency of the processed material, which is extremely important in the case of medical devices. Currently, a geometrically complex medical model can be made even on a simple, 3-axis CNC machine tool. However, often the semi-finished product must be machined in at least two clamping configurations. The aim of the work is to present the method of fixing a workpiece in the process of subtractive production of geometrically complex medical objects on the example of skull bone prostheses. The paper discusses the use of two clamping systems for machining such models. It presents the process of subtractive production of bone prostheses models fitted to the defect of the skull bone with the use of the proposed methods of fixing the workpiece. The result of the work are two models of the skull bone prosthesis. A more complex model was analysed in terms of the accuracy of geometry reproduction. The research confirmed the usefulness of the proposed clamping systems for the preparation of medical models of geometrically complex anatomical structures.

Polymer insert is one of the components of a knee joint endoprosthesis, allowing patients to sustain their mobility. They are mostly made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) that is not without flaws. Inserts can be manufactured by machining (substractive techniques) or by the use of rapid prototyping techniques (additive manufacturing). In order to increase their strength, is increasingly being considered replacing UHMWPE with polyether ether ketone (PEEK). This material has been analyzed in this work due to the growing interest in using this material for the production of implants. This study contains a comparative analysis of two inserts made using two different methods. Its aim is to verify the effect of the manufacturing technique on material uniformity.