British Paralympic volleyball legend Jerry Dillon has appeared on a BBC news broadcast showing how Artec 3D scanning can be used to make better-fitting prosthetic limbs.
Dillon had his right leg amputated above the knee at just 15 months old, but he didn’t allow this to curtail his athletic career, going on to represent Great Britain at four Paralympic Games.
On his BBC appearance, Dillon explained how traditional prosthetics have uncomfortable pinch points, but things are starting to improve for amputees. In particular, he highlighted the speed and accuracy of new technologies, which can be “the difference between a good and bad fit.”
To demonstrate these benefits in real time, Dillon met with Alex Chung of Artec 3D Ambassador Central Scanning, who fitted him for a new tailored prosthetic with Artec Leo 3D scanning.
According to Chung, capturing with the wireless 3D scanner is “as easy as spray painting,” with its all-in-one configuration and click-to-scan functionality simplifying the process. In just two minutes, he had a highly accurate, full-color scan of Dillon’s limb, which could rapidly be turned into a custom prosthetic design and manufactured in a matter of weeks.
Artec 3D scanning has been used for custom prosthetics since 2012 – whether it be creating maxillofacial, limb, or other medical devices that treat bodily deformities – and the company continues to back a prosthetic 3D printing project in Rwanda.
With Artec 3D scanners finding applications across the NHS, prosthetist Val Jacques-Robinson told the BBC that the size and digital nature of the devices make them attractive tools to work with. In particular, as an alternative to measuring with and storing bulky plaster casts.
Artec 3D scanning continues to feature regularly on the BBC, with Artec 3D CEO Art Yukhin recently highlighting the company’s work in Ukraine as part of an interview with BBC Click.
In the past, the technology has also been covered in BBC reports on how a beloved pub was rebuilt in Wolverhampton, and the reconstruction of a 75,000-year-old face.
The company looks forward to seeing more groundbreaking applications of its technology covered in the international media – especially in reports by institutions like the BBC.
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