Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Medical Education
Date Submitted: Oct 28, 2018
Open Peer Review Period: Nov 3, 2018 - Dec 29, 2018
Date Accepted: Feb 9, 2019
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Increasing access to medical training with 3D printing: The endotracheal intubation model
ABSTRACT
Background:
Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is a crucial life-saving procedure, where greater than two failed attempts can lead to further complications or even death. Like all technical skills, ETI requires sufficient practice to perform adequately. Currently, the models used to practice ETI are expensive, and therefore, difficult to access, particularly in the developing world and in settings that lack a dedicated simulation centre.
Objective:
The objective is to improve access to ETI training by creating a comparable, yet cost-effective simulation model producible by 3D printers.
Methods:
Open source mesh files of relevant anatomy from BodyParts3D were modified through 3D modelling programs, Meshlab and Blender. Several prototypes with varying filaments were tried to optimize the ETI simulation.
Results:
We have created the novel 3D-printed Endotracheal Intubation Model for learners at all levels to practice this airway management skill at negligible costs compared to current simulation models. It is an open source design available for all medical trainees.
Conclusions:
Revolutions in cost and ease of use has allowed home and even desktop 3D printers to become widespread. Therefore, open-source access to the Endotracheal Intubation Model will improve accessibility to medical training in the hopes of optimizing patient care.
Citation
Per the author's request the PDF is not available.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.