Netherlands-based non-profit3D Sierra Leone已被提名World Health Organization(WHO) in recognition of its work in 3D printing prosthetics for the West African nation’s amputees.
For nearly four years now, the group has used 3D printing alongside scanning gear provided by闪亮的3Dto produce prosthetics for amputees in the country without access to postoperative care. In recognition of these efforts, the organization has been shortlisted for the WHO’s Special Prize on Health Innovation, which celebrates those projects that seek to benefit the wellbeing of people around the world.
3D Sierra Leone的假肢项目
As previously由3D打印行业报告in 2020, Sierra Leone is a country whose healthcare system remains unable to deal with the wounds caused by traffic accidents or infections, thus it continues to see a large number of amputations. The nation’s lack of medical resources in this area are compounded by the fact that it’s still home to many amputees that survived its Civil War (1991-2002).
To make matters worse, due to the country’s lack of materials, staff and knowhow, many of these patients don’t have access to prosthetics, an issue that according to 3D Sierra Leone, can leave the afflicted feeling “jealous, insecure and depressed.”
In response to this problem, the group set up a pilot 3D lab at Masanga Hospital in Sierra Leone during 2018, at which it sought to test the feasibility of 3D printing low-cost prosthetics and other medical aids. Following the initial success of these trials, 3D Sierra Leone then began producing artificial limbs for people to use in practice, alongside students from theUniversity of Twenteandtu delft.
该项目的参与者一起设计了一个工作流程，可以使用Shining 3D扫描患者的树桩EinScan Pro 2X Plus, over the course of around 20 minutes. This data can then be fed intoMeshmixer软件，它变成了3D假肢型号，而该模型又可以是从当地采购的木材打印的3D。
3D Sierra Leone表示，这种标准化的设置比正常的假肢生产方法更可持续和负担得起，从而使其能够由当地社区独立进行。自该项目开始以来，该组织的方法的潜力已经在一系列案例研究中证实，这些案例研究使各种疾病和道路事故受害者获得了新的人造四肢。
在一个这样的用例中，一个小男孩于2020年被迫在Masanga医院截肢，但在参观了3d Sierra Leone之后，他很快就以定制的假肢重新搬家。截至去年12月，该患者有一个鲜红色的人造肢体（他最喜欢的颜色），该项目背后的荷兰研究人员致力于尽快为他创建一个可调节的替代品。
In between helping a number of other amputees, the 3D Sierra Leone team has also made time to iterate upon their production process. During August 2021, the group revealed that it was developing a new design program which could help further simplify and automate its prosthetic manufacturing workflow, making it easier for locals to use themselves.
Moving forwards, in its most recent update, the group said that it intended to continue working in the country, with Pien de Graaf, a student at the University of Twente, expected to continue seeking new ways of optimizing its operations there.
Those interested in finding out more about3D Sierra Leone’s case studies可以通过组织专用网站上的“项目”选项卡访问它们。
WHO特别奖金提名
In light of the humanitarian work achieved as part of 3D Sierra Leone’s project, it has now been shortlisted for the WHO’s Special Prize on Health Innovation 2022. The award seeks to recognize those that have developed social, digital or technological innovations which have a positive impact on the health of local communities.
3D Sierra Leone’s initiative has been nominated for the prize alongside eight others with similarly-good natured goals, based in both the Western and developing world. As part of the WHO-nominated 4,000 Meters Above Pain project, for example, a team are trying to help those recovering from depression, while a US shortlisted project is seeking to prevent girls from being forced into FGM in Tanzania.
Though the 3D Sierra Leone program was recognized by theDutch Congress of Rehabilitation Medicinetwo years ago, its team would no doubt be delighted to win the WHO Special Prize for their work as well. The award’s winner will be decided by public vote, with people encouraged to post about the nominee they’d like to win under #Film4health, or comment under the project’s video on YouTube.
投票预计5月10日完成2022年the winners set to be announced during the WHO’sHealth for All Film Festival在五月中旬。
Advancing prosthetic availability
由于3D Sierra Leone团队启动了他们的项目，因此其他各种研究人员还使用了3D打印的先天制造灵活性来推动假肢的可及性。近年年，Tu代尔夫特的另一位学生设法开发了低成本上limb插座, which can be FDM 3D printed for as little as €30.
Prosthetic manufacturerPartial Hand Solutions(PHS), on the other hand, has begun usingformlabs’Fuse 1 3D printerto createpediatric finger and elbow implantsin-house. In doing so, the company says it’s now able to produce more durable nylon parts cost-effectively, while cutting their lead times down from two weeks to just a couple of days.
远离人造四肢的世界，该技术也继续用于创建许多其他人造身体部位。实际上，韩国的一组研究人员甚至设法开发了3D打印睾丸, designed to meet a growing demand for low-cost prosthetics in the country, and provide amputees with a timely confidence boost.
要了解最新的3D印刷新闻，请不要忘记订阅3D Printing Industry newsletteror follow us onTwitteror liking our page onFacebook.
For a deeper dive into additive manufacturing, you can now subscribe to ourYouTube频道，包括讨论，汇报和3D打印进程的镜头。
Are you looking for a job in the additive manufacturing industry? Visit3D Printing Jobsfor a selection of roles in the industry.
Featured image shows a group of patients wearing 3D printed prostheses in Masanga. Photo via 3D Sierra Leone.
