Design Challenge

Are you interested in using the latest 3d design engineering technologies?

Do you enjoy a challenge?

Do you want to work with leading experts in the field of custom medical device design, advanced manufacturing, surgery and prosthetics?

Then enter our medical device design challenge!

We are encouraging creative use of 3d design engineering technologies in surgery and prosthetics. The competition is open to participants across India. Winners will be invited to take part in a hands on workshop. You’ll get to learn about the latest 3d digital design technologies and work with like-minded innovators to develop your ideas.

You can download design challenge flyer here.

Read the details below, then download an entry form here.

THE THREE CHALLENGES

CUSTOM TEMPORAL MANDIBULAR JOINT (TMJ

Replacement TMJs are required following conditions such as Ankylosis, trauma, arthritis and cancer. An example of current products and surgical approaches are illustrated here.

Current TMJ reconstruction implants are not well designed for the Indian population. Therefore, custom TMJs, shaped to the anatomy of an individual, represent an opportunity to improve functional outcome.

We are looking for novel solutions to design and fabricate custom TMJs that can be produced efficiently using local supply chains and appropriate 3d design engineering technologies. The template case is from cone beam CT data (CBCT), which is most commonly used, but more difficult to segment into an accurate 3d computer model. You can download it here (hosted at filehosting.org), or use your own data (please avoid using patient identifiable information).

FACIAL PROSTHESES

Facial prostheses are lifelike artificial appliances designed to restore missing portions of the face such as eyes, ears and noses. They are typically used following surgery to remove cancer. Examples can be found here.

Fabricating realistic prostheses is time consuming and requires specialist skills which are not widely available. Best practice uses expensive silicone materials and bone anchored implants to secure the prosthesis to the facial region.

A growing amount of research has explored the use of 3d design engineering technologies for facial prosthesis production, but there are many challenges in making these approaches suitable for the Indian context.

We are looking for novel solutions that could be implemented across India, specifically focussing on people who would struggle to access specialist prosthesis fabrication services. For example, can you overcome challenges of capturing facial defects using low-cost methods, capturing colour and texture details to allow digital designing, incorporating retention mechanisms...?

RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

3D printing and computer numerically controlled machining uses specialist materials which can be expensive and difficult to purchase in some regions.

Globally, there is also a need to increase resource efficiency in materials and production.

Examples of resource-efficiency in medical device production include: recycling materials into filament for 3D printing; extruding blocks of recycled material for CNC machining; use of local and rapidly renewable materials; production planning to make efficient use of build-plates and proprietary materials; collaborative supply chains for more efficient proprietary material use; blended digital and physical modelling; recovering and reprocessing materials from previous models and builds.

We are looking for novel ideas on how resource-efficiency can be improved in the development of anatomical models. Anatomical models are used to teach trainees, communicate complex cases to patients and other healthcare specialists, to plan surgical procedures and to pre-fabricate custom implants. They therefore need to be low cost and fast to produce.

DETAILS

Submit your research or idea.

We welcome the use of high-end software, freeware, low cost technologies and other novel solutions. We are also particularly keen for participants to consider local material supply chains and technologies.

ENTRY OPENS

22nd July 2019

ENTRY CLOSES

30th September 2019

APPLICANTS INFORMED

11th October 2019

WORKSHOP DATE

January 2020 (provisionally)

WORKSHOP LOCATION

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

EXPENSES

We’ll pay for the winners’ internal flights to attend the workshop.

JUDGING CRITERIA

The entries will be judged by an expert panel based on:

Completeness and quality of communication.

Potential workflow efficiency and speed.

Consideration of design decisions, materials and manufacturing processes.

Potential impact.

Consideration of current scientific best-practice