[3D Printing News] Using the Ultimaker 3D printer to help Sierra Leone

[3D Printing News] Using Ultimaker 3D printers to help local people in Sierra Leone

The brutal civil war that ravaged Sierra Leone for more than a decade has left hundreds of innocent civilians with life-altering injuries and illnesses.
Although body-restoring assistance programs involving 3D printing already exist, they rely on remote design and transportation, and the added time and cost limit their effectiveness.
Lars Brouwers, a surgical resident at Radboud University Medical Center in Radboud, and a doctor at Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital in the Netherlands, believe that...
There must be a better way to provide support.

Provide faster and more cost-effective assistance

Dr. Lars Brouwers, who previously worked at Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, had a project on 3D printing anatomical models . His wish was to help create "very inexpensive prostheses that everyone can afford and that can be done quickly." His best solution was to bring the technology to Sierra Leone, providing the local population with the knowledge and materials they needed.
We can't just leave the 3D printer there; we want to start a sustainable project.
To achieve its specific goals, Brouwers began its journey by developing a method that allows for easy 3D printing of effective and natural prosthetic designs.
With the assembled Ultimaker 2+ and enough materials to last a whole year, he and his colleague, Dr. Wouter Nolet, embarked on a three-week road trip, starting in the Netherlands, passing through Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, and ending at the Lionheart Medical Center in Sierra Leone.
Provide knowledge and skills to the affected locals.

Lars Brouwers earned his doctorate from Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital in the Netherlands while working in 3D printing.

Arrival in Sierra Leone

When Brouwers and Nolet arrived at Lionheart Medical Center, the local prosthetic engineers reacted very positively to the new 3D printing technology when they saw the equipment.
The locals are delighted to have the opportunity to be trained and to use it, as they have always made prosthetics by hand.

The process of 3D printing prostheses can produce accurate and consistent results with less labor.

The unrest in Sierra Leone has devastated the country's infrastructure, leading to frequent power outages. The Ultimaker 2+ needed to be installed in a location with a continuous power supply. The clinic, where the printer was temporarily housed, had a special uninterruptible solar power supply installed to protect against any power outages.

The enthusiasm and dedication of the local prosthetic experts meant they could easily drive over 60 kilometers a day on their small motorcycles to reach the clinic. 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 building a mobile solar power system that can power the printer.
This places it in a more central position.

Not just manufacturing prosthetics

The Ultimaker 2+ has also been found to be used to create other affordable prostheses. Important tools, such as umbilical cord clamps, which previously required costly and time-consuming transport by ship, can now be produced on-site and printed as needed, often in time-sensitive situations.

Furthermore, Brouwers and Nolet found that printing anatomical models for teaching purposes also had added value. They printed thoracic spine models to teach medical personnel how to perform spinal anesthesia.
Brouwers reported that they are seeking more opportunities to provide anatomical models.

Narrowing the global gap

With the seeds of innovation sown and all the necessary tools and training provided for the continued rebuilding of the local community, Brouwers returned to the Netherlands. He described the trip as "a real adventure, very special," adding, "an opportunity to see the true face of the African continent" and "...to meet good people all over the world."
These were also some of the highlights of the trip.

As part of his medical training, Nolet remained in Sierra Leone. He, his local team, Brouwers, and the 3D lab at Radboud University Medical Center were able to stay in touch via email and WhatsApp to help with the transition and adoption of the technology.

Local experts can send photos of any necessary parts they need, and Brouwers and the 3D lab can digitize the designs and send them 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 predict that this process will take several more years.

This project will ultimately be in their hands. To achieve its goals, it must fully leverage local resources. We will be there whenever they need us, no matter how long it takes.

Brouwers and Nolet have been nominated for the Albert Schweitzer Prize 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