Week 6: The Foot Scanner!

Hello again! This week was a bit different than previous weeks in that I worked less with the prosthetics and orthotics and essentially set up a new scanning system that will send the foot scans directly to an outside fabrication center that will create the foot orthotic for us. The medical equipment that we acquired needed some adjustments for it to fit the scanner and hold it for storage. This was my job for the day. I ended up spending hours taking apart the stand and modifying it so that it fit the scanner and would hold the scanner safely in transport. For the image below I essentially had to take apart everything below the monitor, pulling apart the electrical system then moving it away from the storage compartments (locking mechanism). I removed some of the shelving and the keyboard stand as neither was necessary for what we were using it for. I also had a new problem of metal support that go in the way (also no longer necessary because the storage was removed). I ended up having to take the whole section out and saw off parts, finally laying a sticky fabric so the scanner does not slide and 2 sets up straps to hold it down.

When finished with all of the setup, all of the staff came together and had an informational seminar/call with the makers of the scanner and the system to explain exactly how to work the system properly. Of course as the intern, I was chosen as the initial test subject. The scanner itself looks somewhat similar to the one below. After having my feet scanned we went through the whole process of designating the specific type of orthotics to be made.

Earlier in the week, not too much happened as one of the clinicians was down in Mexico working at a clinic. These types of clinics rely heavily on the unpaid volunteering of American clinicians to fit over 40 patients in only a few days. Without such specialized service work it would be almost impossible for patients in the poorest parts of Mexico to receive such prosthetics. 

We have been having trouble with getting the software for the 3D scanner to work on the computers in the office. Next week we are going to try re-downloading the programs to finally get that scanner working. That will be exciting because I will most likely be tasked with getting that working.