Ottobock Prosthetics Design with CATIA Imagine & Shape

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Ottobock Prosthetics Design with CATIA Imagine & Shape

Case study showing how Ottobock used CATIA Imagine & Shape to model complex freeform surfaces for the Michelangelo prosthetic hand in three weeks instead of two months.

Published

June 4, 2026

Read time

3 min read

Source

Ottobock Healthcare Products GmbH replaced its prior CAD system with Dassault Systemes 3DEXPERIENCE platform and CATIA Imagine & Shape to achieve natural surface geometry on advanced mechatronic prostheses. The solution enabled direct surface manipulation at control points, automatic curve continuity, and stable models that reduced design time from eight weeks to three. The Michelangelo hand shell was completed with lifelike vein structure, wrinkles, and transitions while meeting technical constraints for mobility and durability.

Key takeaways

CATIA Imagine & Shape reduced Michelangelo hand shell modeling from two months to three weeks

Direct surface manipulation at control points replaced traditional CAD constraints

Automatic curve continuity and model stability supported iterative natural-form design

Designers modeled realistic skin wrinkles and vein patterns without geometry instability

Solution adopted as strategic surface modeling tool for all form-critical Ottobock products

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