Creating Optimal Orthotics and Prosthetics with Artec Eva and Spider

Ngày tạo: 27/09/2019 11:49:14 SA

An orthotics and prosthetics specialist needed to find the best 3D scanning solution for making precision O&P products faster while reducing overall production costs.

But it wasn’t always this way. They have used various 3D scanners over the years, such as Amfit, yet after careful research, they finally settled on Artec Eva and Spider, two professional color 3D scanners that are well-known for their use in the medical and scientific fields and other industries. Both scanners use 100%-safe structured light, making them perfect for the medical field, for technicians as well as patients. Eva was purchased from Gold Certified reseller Laser Design, and Spider from Certified reseller Rapidscan 3D.

When it came to designing O&P products in the past, prior to 3D scanning, what that meant was using plaster and fiberglass to make casts for patients. While these technologies are certainly still an option if needed, they are messy and time consuming, with plaster casting taking on average 200% to 500% of the time that it takes to do a precise digital 3D scan (2-5 minutes for a scan, versus 11 minutes for a cast). Cost savings are equally impressive, with an average cast costing more than $50 in materials, not to mention the labor costs associated with its creation. While the cost of a 3D scan is a mere handful of dollars in comparison.

“Many of our patients are elderly, and having to sit still for a cast is not something so comfortable for them,” said Hagen, “and that’s where Eva and Space Spider really shine…having to sit still for just a couple of minutes makes a big difference in their comfort level.”

And in recent years, the increase in patient satisfaction has climbed from “satisfied” to “devoted.” Hagen explained, “Our patients quickly see that this is simply not something they can buy over the counter…it’s a custom product designed exactly for them, created to perfectly match their anatomy and their lifestyle, and it’s going to last them a long time. Mobility is so important, especially when we get older. And we’re giving that back to them, with real comfort. They’re telling their friends and family about this.”

The final 3D model can also be sent to Simplify, for 3D printing. In the case of an orthosis, after carving, the top cover is glued on, and the ready product is taken to the patient for fitting. In terms of 3D printing, the practice is also regularly designing and creating braces for legs, wrists, feet, and hands.

“The level of precision we’re talking about is unbeatable, and the fact that we can deliver it every time, without question, is something we just can’t ignore,” said Hagen, “And scanning with Eva and Space Spider is as easy as 1-2-3, where you see the scan right there on the screen in Artec Studio, so you know exactly that your scan is capturing all the data, because you see it happening in real time.”