Fabrication Friday - 3D Printing in Haiti

Implementing any kind of new technology can be difficult - now add in the complexity of having intermittent electricity, extreme humidity, and unreliable shipping logistics. These hurdles, among others, are present while attempting to 3D print patient end-use devices in Haiti. Today we hear directly from our friend and clinical partner, Cindy Laurent, a Haitian prosthetist, orthotist, and owner of a P&O clinic in Port-au-Prince called PrOPhy Care. Cindy has been utilizing a digital workflow and 3D printing since 2016 to provide functional upper extremity prostheses and other useful devices. Through a collaboration between the Enable Community Foundation, Victoria Hand Project, and Healing Hands for Haiti in 2016, a project was set in motion to provide a 10 day training course for the Haitian prosthetists/orthotists on 3D scanning, digital modifications and device design, and 3D printing as applied to upper extremity prosthetics. Cindy participated in this training and excelled as a 3D printing technician over the course of this two year long project. The aim was to attempt to make the project as self sustaining as possible, by teaching the local clinicians to utilize this technology and assist with maintaining materials stock over time. Data was gathered on the efficacy of the training as well as the feedback from over 13 patients who were initially fit with transradial and transhumeral prostheses. After an overall positive experience, Cindy continued to work with the 3D printers and continued to use this technology to service patients over the past 5 years since.Special thanks to Tyler Bray for joining us today and adding in his experience as a supportive 3D printing technician to Cindy! Other thanks for clinical guidance from Jeff Erenstone, technical and administrative assistance from Jade Myers, and Peter Larsen as another supportive 3D printing technician.Cindy Laurent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-laurent-271b0330/Tyler Bray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerjbray/Learn more about what we do at Ascent Fabrication by checking us out online!Website: www.ascentfab.comEmail: [email protected]: @ascentfabLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkfairley3rd/