LANI ROSE R DIZON

DOHA THE Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has become the first hospital in the Middle East to use a 3D CAD/CAM system in its prosthetic and orthotic department.

The QR2million worth orthotic and prosthetic CAD/CAM system which was purchased from the US-based BioSculptor company, promises greater accuracy and patient comfort along with cost and time effectiveness.

Speaking to the mediapersons on Wednesday, HMC Prosthetics Department Head Dr Fadel Adam said that the new machine could manufacture custom-made prosthetic, orthotic, spinal and foot-wear products in “no time”. The system consists of a dual-camera bio-scanner which could scan a patient within seconds with an accuracy of 0.178mm.

“The new scanning machine provides greater patient comfort because we don’t need to touch the patient’s affected area when measuring for his prosthesis. In the manual system, we touch the entire thing and then mark off the injured area. But the machine is accurate,” Adam said.

He also said the system features sophisticated CAD manipulation software which is used to design and modify the prosthesis and orthosis products such as upper and lower extremity prosthesis, spinal orthosis, lower and upper extremity orthoses and cranial helmets based on the measurements scanned.

The final process includes the Biomill which has the ability to rapidly cut intricate shapes and form the finished products of cranial helmets, face masks and foot orthotics, among others.

“With the new machine, the entire process would only take around an hour to create a prosthesis or orthosis. We could accomplish the same thing with the manual system in about three hours.

Currently, a trainer from the US-based company is here to teach how to use the entire system. We’re also receiving direct assistance online from the company which also monitors the accuracy of our data input.

“Within two months, the prosthetic and orthotic CAD/CAM system would be fully operational in the department. Also, we only have one scanner at present, but soon we’ll have four scanners to be used at the outpatient hospital, inpatient hospital, as well as to cater to any emergency use,” Adam said.

Adam also said that the prosthetic and orthotic department at the HMC’s Rumailah Hospital has been receiving an influx of patients compared to earlier years.

This year, the department receives about 700 cases per month compared to the average 520 patients it had been receiving each month last year.