Netherlands-based non-profit3D Sierra Leone已被提名World Health Organization（WHO）认可其在西非国家截肢者的3D印刷假肢中的工作。
近四年来，该小组一直使用3D打印与提供的扫描装备一起闪亮的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
如从前那样由3D打印行业报告在2020年，塞拉利昂（Sierra Leone）是一个国家，其医疗保健系统仍无法应对交通事故或感染引起的伤口，因此它继续看到大量截肢。该国在这一领域缺乏医疗资源的事实使许多截肢者的家园在内战（1991-2002）中幸存下来。
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.”
为了应对这个问题，该小组在2018年在塞拉利昂的Masanga医院建立了一个试点3D实验室，该实验室试图测试3D打印低成本假肢和其他医疗援助的可行性。在这些试验最初取得成功之后，3d Sierra Leone随后开始生产人造四肢，供人们在实践中使用，并与来自特威特大学和tu 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 into网状混合物software, where it’s turned into a 3D prosthetic model, which in turn, can be 3D printed.
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.
那些有兴趣了解更多有关3D 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 the荷兰康复医学大会两年前，它的团队毫无疑问也很高兴为他们的工作赢得WHO特别奖。该奖项的获奖者将由公众投票决定，并鼓励人们发布有关他们想在＃Film4Health下赢得的提名人，或在项目视频下在YouTube上发表评论。
预计投票将于2022年5月10日结束，获奖者将在WHO期间宣布Health for All Film Festival在五月中旬。
推进假肢的可用性
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 manufacturer部分手部解决方案(PHS), on the other hand, has begun usingformlabs’Fuse 1 3D printer去创造小儿手指和肘部植入物in-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打印睾丸旨在满足该国对低成本假肢的不断增长的需求，并为截肢者提供及时的信心。
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Featured image shows a group of patients wearing 3D printed prostheses in Masanga. Photo via 3D Sierra Leone.
