NovaCast a device that prevents
infections, ulcers and even amputation of limbs, is 10 times lighter
than traditional materials and allows good ventilation.
The use of plaster splints for the
rehabilitation of bones can cause infections, ulcers and even
amputations because their shape prevents proper medical inspection,
sweat accumulates, and they have poor ventilation. To avoid these
problems, a group of young graduates from the National University of
Mexico (UNAM) created Mediprint, a Mexican startup that manufactures
3D-printed splints.
"The material that conventional splints are made of is a highly
hygroscopic plaster, meaning it absorbs sweat and allows the bacteria to
proliferate because there is no ventilation," said Zaid Musa Badwan,
engineer and founder of Mediprint.The main product is called NovaCast, a cast made with 3D printing, replacing traditional casts. It has the advantage of being 10 times lighter, removable, aesthetically superior, and can be personalized. Patients can even bathe with it.
"The project started when my mom had an accident and broke
her left hand. Doctors gave her a bad splint and later had to surgically
fracture her to correct it, but again, they wrongly placed the cast, so
they diagnosed her with a 50 percent disability in her hand," said Zaid
Badwan.
He explained that there are cases of
people who need amputations because of the misuse of the plaster and
infection by the bacteria that can grow in it. Also, if the cast is
misplaced, the bone does not weld well and permanently affects mobility.
In addition, the engineer designed software that defines the
precise measures needed for the medical device without the need to make
a 3D scan. "It only requires that the doctor enters the data and it
automatically generates the ideal geometry for the print." This way, the
specialist can attend to other patients while the device is printed.
A new NovaCast is obtained in an average of three and a half
hours, depending on the size of the cast. "We are doing research and
development to reduce that time to just one hour. The next step is to
take the technology to hospitals and increase the number of 3D printers,
so the health centers can obtain surgical tools, custom templates or
anatomical teaching models that replace the use of corpses."
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