A brutal civil war that ravaged Sierra Leone for over a decade left hundreds of innocent citizens with life-altering injuries.
Although restorative physical aid programs involving 3D printing capabilities exist, they rely on remote design and transportation, and the additional time and
cost limit their effectiveness.
Lars Brouwers, a surgical resident at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, and a doctor at Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital in the Netherlands, believed that
there had to be a better way to provide support.
Providing Faster, More Cost-Effective Aid
Having previously worked on 3D printing anatomical models during his time at Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, Lars Brouwers' wish was to help create
"very affordable prosthetics that everyone can afford, and quickly." The best solution he envisioned was to bring the technology to Sierra Leone, providing
local citizens with the necessary knowledge and materials.
"We can't just put a 3D printer there; we want to start a sustainable project."
To achieve this clear goal, Brouwers embarked on a journey to develop an effective and natural prosthetic design that could be easily 3D printed.
With an assembled Ultimaker 2+ and enough materials for a year's use, he and his colleague, Dr. Wouter Nolet, embarked on a three-week road trip,
starting from the Netherlands, passing through Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, and ending at the Lion Heart Medical Centre in Sierra Leone,
to provide knowledge and skills to the affected local population.
Lars Brouwers, who worked on 3D printing, earned his doctorate at Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital in the Netherlands.
Arrival in Sierra Leone
When Brouwers and Nolet arrived at the Lion Heart Medical Centre, local prosthetic engineers reacted very positively to the new 3D printing technology when they saw the equipment.
The locals were excited about the opportunity to train and use it, as they had always made prosthetics by hand.
The process of 3D printing prosthetics can produce accurate and consistent results with less labor.
The unrest in Sierra Leone has damaged the country's infrastructure, leading to frequent power outages. The Ultimaker 2+ needed to be installed in a location with continuous power.
The clinic had already installed a special uninterrupted solar power system to guard against any power failures, which is where the printer was temporarily placed.
The enthusiasm and dedication of local prosthetic specialists meant that driving over 60 kilometers daily on small motorcycles to reach the clinic was no problem. But after a while,
it became clear that a more convenient location was needed.
Brouwers and Nolet are currently working to overcome this challenge by setting up a mobile solar power system that can power the printer,
allowing it to be located in a more central position.
More Than Just Making Prosthetics
The Ultimaker 2+ was also found to be useful for creating other affordable prosthetic devices. Important tools, such as umbilical cord clamps, which previously took considerable cost and time
to ship by boat, can now be printed on-site and on demand, often for time-sensitive situations.
In addition, Brouwers and Nolet found added value in printing anatomical models for teaching purposes. They printed thoracic vertebrae to teach medical staff how to perform spinal anesthesia.
Brouwers reported that they are exploring more opportunities to provide anatomical models.
Bridging the Global Divide
With the seeds of innovation sown, and all the necessary tools and training for the local population to continue rebuilding, Brouwers returned to the Netherlands. Brouwers said the trip
was "a real adventure, very special." "The opportunity to see the true face of the African continent" and "...to meet good people around the world"
were also some of the highlights of the trip.
As part of his medical training, Nolet remained in Sierra Leone. He, the local team, Brouwers, and the 3D lab at Radboud University Medical Center
are able to stay in touch via email and WhatsApp to help with switching and adopting technology.
Local experts can send photos of any necessary parts they need, which Brouwers and the 3D lab can digitize and send back to
Sierra Leone for local printing. However, the main goal of this project is to empower local residents and enable them to be self-sufficient, avoiding constant remote support.
Brouwers and Nolet expect this process to take several more years.
"This project will eventually be in their hands. To achieve its goals, it must be fully localized. As long as they need us, we will be there,
no matter how long it takes."
Brouwers and Nolet have been nominated for the Albert Schweitzer Award 2018. For more information, you can find Lars Brouwers on Twitter.
Original link:https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/52541-empowering-locals-in-sierra-leone-with-ultimaker-3d-printers