Medical Appliance Technicians

What Does a Medical Appliance Technicians Do?

Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Drill and tap holes for rivets, and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices.
• 2Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools required.
• 3Make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand or power tools.
• 4Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.
• 5Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
• 6Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
• 7Cover or pad metal or plastic structures or devices, using coverings such as rubber, leather, felt, plastic, or fiberglass.
• 8Test medical supportive devices for proper alignment, movement, or biomechanical stability, using meters and alignment fixtures.

Required Skills

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Quality Control Analysis
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Troubleshooting
• Social Perceptiveness
• Operations Monitoring
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Footmaxx Metascan software
• Gait analysis software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Word
• Ohio Willow Wood OMEGA Tracer System
• Orthotic fabrication software
• Seattle Systems Shapemaker