3D printing of phantom training tools

In this research line we focus on training tools to increase global surgical workforce.

 

If we want to reach Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Universal Health coverage for all- we believe that biomedical engineers from all over the world need to contribute to the global efforts to train more surgeons. 

 

Many low- and middle-income countries have a shockingly low number of surgeons per capita despite the need being extremely high (since more people die from treatable surgical conditions than from tuberculosis, malaria and HIV put together). Multiple efforts to increase workforce capacity in these countries are rolled out including surgical training programmes by organisations such as provided by the Society of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), short-term training courses by international surgeons and online training videos such as developed by the Dutch company Incision. 

 

Together with our partners, we have identified the need for low-cost locally manufacturable training tools (such as phantoms) to enhance surgical skill development without the need for high-end expensive training labs. 

We currently work on the following innovations to increase access to surgical training in LMICs:

-A training phantom for vesicovaginal fistula repair 

- A training planform for capsulorhexis as part of a cataract surgery 

 

We collaborate in this project with Dr.Theo Wiggers, COSECSA and Dr. Thomas Kuriose.