Creating a process that doesn’t require physical contact with patients
In Germany, a clinic has partnered with Pheonix GmbH & Co. KG to use 3D laser scanning devices and 3D printing to create kids’ foot orthosis. These are specially made shoe inserts that will allow kids to have better posture and grow up with fewer back problems. This team developed a way to create these inserts in a touch-free environment. 3D laser scanning allows them to do this easily. When it is so essential to be contactless, this tool could not have come at a better time.
Thanks to COVID-19, the 3D laser scanning industry is rapidly rising, especially in the health field. To complete this project, the researchers used Thor3D Calibry 3D scanner with Calibry nest software and Pheonix’s algorithms to complete the foot orthosis without touching any patients.
Previous ways to create a foot orthosis
Before 3D laser scanning came into the picture, creating a foot orthosis was labor-intensive and took a lot of effort from doctors and the kids involved. On top of that, a child has to go back a few times before they stop growing because their feet are always changing and getting longer. Kids grow fast, and with that means new orthosis every year.
The previous way was to take a child to the foot doctors several times. One would be to get measurements, the doctor has to gather the details of a child’s foot by hand and then model it. Once a model is completed, they must test it to ensure it will work for the feet, and the child is comfortable in them. As they test, the doctors adjust the orthosis. The mold would then be plastered; once it was complete, any additional adjustments would be made to the shell. This took weeks, if not months, and leaves everyone exhausted.
Using 3D laser scanning, the clinic reduced the number of steps it took to create the orthosis for the child. This reduced the number of visits, increased accuracy, and made the kids feel more comfortable. This is a way for a clinic to boost morale and make people feel comfortable. It is also a way to limit the spread of germs when it becomes contactless.
They can now use a 3D laser scanning device to collect the information on the feet, which is very precise. Send it to the modeling system to edit and analyze. Print the model and be able to test it. Then with that same data, they are able to print an orthosis. This cuts several steps in half and makes things a lot easier for both parties involved.
Final thoughts
3D laser scanning has entered our world at full speed, and we are finding useful ways to upgrade our world and standard of living from it. There are so many amazing things we are doing with this technology. Everyone is excited to see what we will do next. This German clinic will be one of many to adopt this advanced technology.
