[3D Printing News] A Medical Savior for Developing Countries - 3D Printed Prosthetics

Changing Lives in Developing Countries with 3D Printed Prosthetics
 
Wherever 3D printing technology goes in the world, it offers endless new possibilities! The Victoria Hand Project creates customized prosthetics for amputees in third-world countries, using Ultimaker 3D printers to make the process more efficient and cost-effective. Below are more details about the Victoria Hand Project and the unique challenges it faces.
 
Prosthetic Creation Before 3D Printing

Before the development of 3D printing, creating prosthetics for people in developing countries was very challenging. Communities in remote areas meant that importing materials was expensive. Furthermore, a lack of resources and difficult working conditions also made it hard to create suitable prosthetics. Nepal is just one example.

Before the Victoria Hand Project began, 72.5% of Nepalese amputees did not have access to prosthetics.
 

 
Disabled individuals have high expectations for prosthetists and prosthetics themselves, as they have seen them online and have equally high expectations in their own countries. However, the feasibility is extremely low, and 80% of people usually cannot afford such high-tech prosthetics. 80% of Nepal's disabled population lives in poorer areas, and healthcare professionals have limited rehabilitation management.
 
Similarly, prosthetic hands are readily available in Cambodia, but they are often only for cosmetic purposes and cannot be used for more practical functions. For example, many farmers have lost limbs due to landmines or other ordnance and choose not to get replacement limbs due to a lack of functionality.
 
The Victoria Hand Project

The Victoria Hand Project team was finally able to provide 3D-printed prosthetics to people in developing countries after receiving a grant from Grand Challenges Canada. They are now using 3D printing technology to create customized prosthetics for amputees. Ultimaker also donated four Ultimaker 2+ 3D printers to help them achieve their goal!

Here are some of the places where they are making a difference:

● Cambodia. One of Victoria Hand's newest partners is Arc Hub PNH in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Angie MacDonald and Josh Coutts work on the campus of the Royal University of Fine Arts and collaborate with Arc Hub PNH not only to provide prosthetics to local people but also to offer design and manufacturing services in the capital.
● Nepal. In Kathmandu, Nepal, Michael Peirone trains clinicians and engineering students at the Nepal Orthopedic Hospital. Their partner, Limb Care Nepal, has hosted several user trials, greatly assisting in the improvement of prosthetic design.

      
 
Benefits of 3D Printing

The Victoria Hand Project's initiation of 3D printing provides an ideal solution for amputees in developing countries. The technology offers many advantages:

● "Local" Creation. Prosthetics can be printed in the same country, rather than being manufactured abroad at considerable cost and then shipped to developing countries. This means faster delivery and significantly lower costs.
● Low Cost, High Efficiency. 3D printing reduces the need for expensive manufacturing equipment (e.g., injection molding machines, milling machines, and lathes).
● Replacement Parts. Replacement parts, tools, and medical devices can be created using 3D printers and plastic materials, rather than spending a lot of money on imports.
● Customized Design. All prosthetics can be customized for the user, which includes aesthetic factors such as skin color.
● Design Validation. 3D printing makes the process of validating design concepts faster and cheaper.
● Mobility. 3D printers can be easily relocated, meaning more amputees can benefit from 3D printing technology.
● Functionality. 3D-printed limb designs can be easily modified and reinforced to provide amputees with a better range of motion.

The team also highlighted several other benefits of 3D printing technology. For example, the team working in Cambodia uses their 3D printer to build large models of unexploded ordnance to demonstrate how to safely defuse explosive hazards.

Pioneering new design concepts anywhere in the world, then sending them to those who need them, and printing them instantly. This fast and efficient 3D printing technology chain creates a borderless technological world. This innovative and exciting approach connects global societies and encourages broader cooperation.
 
Challenges Faced
 
   
 
Throughout the development process, the Victoria Hand Project faced many challenges, including training local clinicians and production via 3D printing.

The most critical obstacle is the lack of awareness. Often, people in developing countries are not very familiar with 3D printers and do not have computers to access technological information. Victoria Hand's team needs to ensure they target the right talent for training. For example, in Nepal, they train engineering students because these students already have rich experience in using engineering tools and computer programming.

Some problems also arise from local characteristics. In Kathmandu, power outages are a common occurrence, happening at least once a day. To ensure an uninterrupted power supply for the 3D printer, a new power source needed to be established. This was finally achieved, allowing the team to overcome a major hurdle!

Occasionally, local attitudes and perceptions towards prosthetics can also be a problem. For example, in Nepal, some people believe that disability is God's punishment because you committed a sin in a previous life. Therefore, these people are unwilling to wear visible prosthetics. In addition, some people would rather have a visually appealing prosthetic than one that provides good functionality. The Nepalese government is cooperating with the Victoria Hand Project to find people in need for the project, helping the Nepalese people to have a broader perspective on wearing prosthetics.
 

 
Local Support

According to the team, the government and local people were initially very supportive and excited about the potential power it could provide to the community and the entire country. Initially, people and the government did not have much awareness—but social media is largely promoting 3D printing technology, spreading it to more places. The Victoria Hand Project also works with the government to help them find suitable people from the government's database.

The Victoria Hand Project team continues to do outstanding work around the world but still needs some support to achieve their goals. If you want to learn more about the project's current situation or would like to donate, please click here. Or share it to let more people know about the Victoria Hand Project!


Original text:https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/30886-changing-lives-in-developing-countries-with-3d-printed-prosthetics