NEWS
ARTEC 3D LAUNCHES MEDICAL 3D SCANNING INITIATIVE WITH HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL
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3D scanning hardware and software developer , Artec 3D , has partnered with Handicap International ( HI ), an NGO fostering Humanity and Inclusion around the
world , to customise medical devices for patients in Rwanda .
Through the humanitarian project , medical staff have been trained by Artec experts to quickly and easily measure arms , legs and torsos using the world ’ s first wireless 3D scanner : Artec Leo . With the resulting data , doctors plan to tailor orthotics , prosthetics and supports to patients , in a way that ’ s less intrusive and better meets medical needs in remote locations .
Designing these devices digitally will also allow them to be made with 3D printing , a technology that ’ s cheaper to adopt than traditional machinery and more capable of rapid customisation .
“ It ’ s remarkable to see how Artec 3D ’ s partnership with HI is improving healthcare accessibility in Rwanda ,” said Artec 3D CEO and President Art Yukhin . “ It ’ s heartening to witness technology being harnessed for such impactful humanitarian endeavors . Following the success of our initial project with HI , we hope to recreate such promising experiences in other regions .”
With training from the two Artec 3D experts flown out to help , the Rwandan team have quickly been able to begin digitising anatomies with high accuracy and precision . “ After a brief training session , they could start scanning immediately ,” said Jerry Klein , one of Artec 3D ’ s project training experts . “ I saw it in their eyes ; they were so impressed with how easy it was !”
NEW INSIGHTS TO TACKLE MAJOR GLOBAL HEALTH DATA RESEARCH CHALLENGES collaborative research . The teams also used innovative approaches to engage and involve local communities and policymakers , helping build trust and the uptake of research insights to inform health policies and practices .
An analysis of the challenges faced by researchers during the International COVID-19 Data Alliance ( ICODA ) programme has shed new light on solutions that could accelerate global health data research .
At the height of the pandemic , Health Data Research UK ( HDR UK ) convened ICODA , bringing together an international alliance of partners to enable researchers worldwide – particularly in low- and middle-income countries – to harness the power of health data .
Given the urgent health needs presented by the COVID-19 pandemic , speed was vital in the delivery of driver projects and all were set up to deliver insights within a short timeframe of 12 to 18 months .
Key challenges included the time required to prepare the data , getting data-sharing agreements signed across differing national legal frameworks , and ensuring the data was shared across borders in a secure , ethical and trustworthy manner .
Working with the ICODA team , the research teams found innovative solutions to address these challenges , including the use of standardised data sharing agreements , a structured ethics and governance framework , and the provision of a cloud-hosted trusted research environment to provide a secure space for undertaking
Professor Andrew Morris , Director of HDR UK and a co-author on the paper , said : “ I am very grateful to all the partners and research teams involved in ICODA for sharing their insights and learnings , and hope these enable researchers across the international community to use data science approaches to address a wider range of global health challenges .”
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