Today, every health professional can have a 3D model of a hand, a foot, a torso… quickly. And this in an ultra precise, repeatable and reproducible way. A simple application on a smartphone is enough! No need to make your patient come to your office, he can scan himself at home. The data is automatically sent and processed so that you can directly order a custom-made orthosis in the patient’s size or plan a custom design. The benefits are obvious: saving time, increasing accuracy and eliminating the need for plaster or fiber molds. This is a real innovation in the orthopedic market.
Want to know more about instant scanning without a reference element to define a perfect brace? We give you all the answers in this article.
Remote measurement
The challenges of taking measurements to define an custom-made orthosis
As a healthcare professional, doctor, prosthetist, orthopedic and medical device manufacturer, your goal is to provide the right care equipment for your patient’s treatment. A perfectly fitting orthosis ensures a quick and successful recovery.
As you can see, the challenge is twofold. The measurements must be :
Accurate :
Of course, a few millimeters of error do not affect the selection of the orthosis size or the definition of the custom-made device, as long as the measurements remain within the validated ranges.
Reproductible :
It’s like shooting a bow, aiming once is essential! But the real challenge is to hit the bull’s eye every time, no matter who the archer is. Thus, the real challenge for health professionals is to manage the reproduction of the process, regardless of the place or the person who takes the measurement.
Let’s now see why it is so difficult to manage this measurement with traditional techniques.
Why is remote measurement so challenging?
Usually, the tape measure is the chosen tool for measuring a limb. It is true that it is a simple accessory to handle. However, it is not safe. Did you know that “The uncertainty of measurements taken by different operators is ± 0.63 cm” for a tape measure? (source “Reproducibility and reliability of perimeter measurements of a healthy lower limb”).
The definition of a custom-made orthosis requires several measurements. Sometimes, for a single product, dozens are required. Each measurement requires mastery of both :
the tightening of the tape measure around the limb ;
and the position of the tape measure on the part of the body concerned.
Unfortunately, depending on the person taking the measurement, differences in the tightness of the tape measure around the limb (too much or not enough) are observed. In addition, it is common for a professional to position the tape measure a little too high or too low on the limb.
If you multiply these micro-errors by the number of measurements to be taken to define a custom-made orthosis, you have a significant risk of using incorrect data. This is not without consequences for the treatment and comfort of your patient and on the return rate of the prescribed orthoses.
How to obtain a reliable and reproducible remote measurement?
Scanning is THE solution to perfectly model a body (or a part of it) in terms of size and shape. The 3D scan coupled with the use of software allows you in a few minutes in any environment to have an ultra accurate morphological representation.
The reliability and repeatability of 3D technology are approved, regardless of the level of expertise of the person taking the measurement. The 3D models generated with MyFit Solutions have an average accuracy of one millimeter for use in many applications.
How to facilitate and automate the remote measurement without a reference element?
The use of a smartphone makes it even easier to take measurements remotely. Indeed, you do not need to bring your patient to a 3D radiology center.
MyFit Solutions has standardized the taking of measurements with the 3D scan. The process is simple, just one click for an automated solution in three steps:
First, the person scans his or her limb (hand, foot, ear) or has it scanned by a health professional.
Then, the data is automatically sent to a secure server where it is analyzed by our artificial intelligence trained by a large amount of data. Indeed, a large panel has been tested to make the application reliable. (Example of an existing project KPI “custom ear tip”: +2000 units produced, with scans received from +25 different countries and a first time correct scan rate of +98%!)
Finally, our application allows to define precisely the size needed for the design or the order of the medical device.
Taking measurements remotely with 3D scanning offers many advantages. First of all, it is done without physical contact with the person, which depending on the trauma can be more pleasant for the patient. Secondly, it is done remotely without any reference element, providing reliable and repeatable results. And finally, coupled with a database, it allows the automation of the orthosis ordering process.
Provide a 3D morphological scan at scale
Imagine, in just two minutes of scanning, you get a scaled morphological reconstruction and an automated measurement to be able to provide a custom-made orthosis adapted to your patient! It’s possible, you don’t have to do anything.
The 3D body scan is the revolution to have without physical contact with the patient a morphological diagram to scale the person. It captures in three dimensions a part of the human body (head, chest…) or a member (hand, foot, ear…). Then, the collected data are processed by computer to model the scanned area automatically. This technology provides a high quality 3D model and above all an unequaled precision on the sizes and shapes of a body.
The advantages are multiple:
1/ It is a non-invasive technique.
The scan is performed without physical contact. Depending on the part of the body, the patient can scan alone, otherwise an operator turns around the person at a distance of about 1 m to capture the images.
2/ The scan is fast.
From a few seconds to a maximum of two minutes are enough to collect all the measurement points.
3/ The results are reliable and can be used immediately.
The scan ensures accurate and reproducible results in 99% of the cases, regardless of who takes the measurement!
A measurement is not only used to make a custom-made product, but also to recommend a standard brace size from your catalog (S, M, L or 38, 40, 42…). Let’s now look at how an automated and perfectly controlled process helps recommend an orthotic size.
Recommending a size
Order the right size to limit return rates
The use of a 3D scan provides an accurate measurement of a human body part or limb. This makes it an ideal solution for recommending medical devices: orthesis, splint, corset, prosthesis, sole… No more online guides that depend on measurements to be taken with the famous tape measure. MyFit Solutions has developed a technology capable of recommending THE right size product for your patient.
How to recommend a size with an automated process?
Here is a concrete example of how MyFit automates the ordering of a wrist splint:
1/ First, MyFit solutions takes measurements using 3D scanning. The wrist is scanned by the application available on the smartphone. This scan can be done by the patient himself or a health professional.
2/ Then, the data are retrieved and modeled to digitally reproduce the wrist with all its morphological details.
3/ Then, the collected information is analyzed via an artificial intelligence based on large amounts of data. The predefined algorithm allows to choose between size M and size L (for example) and to recommend the perfect size for the patient.
4/ Finally, the item can be ordered with the assurance of sending the right product for the patient’s size/morphology.
The gain is immediate. This patented technology scans areas of the body, extracting measurements and matching them with an accurate size. The process ensures better stock management, a decrease in the return rate of the orthosis and above all a good customer experience.
To go further, this measurement assistant available in smartphones could even allow brands and manufacturers to increase the number of sizes offered. Instead of presenting a few generic sizes, you offer more accurate size variants that are now recommendable for the remote patient.
At the point of sale or remotely, this technology is available from a mobile application. It is therefore accessible to all your customers!
Scan everywhere, at anytime
How to perform 3D body scans anywhere and at anytime?
The technological innovation of 3D scanning is a revolution in the world of medical imaging. It allows to provide equipment perfectly adapted to the patient’s morphology, like custom-made orthosis. But the real revolution comes from the use of the smartphone for an easy scanning without any reference element!
3D scanning exists, but with scanners that require the patient to move or expensive equipment. Today there is no need, a simple smartphone that everyone has in his pocket can perform this measurement reliably, reproducibly and without training. No skills are required, just install an application and let the phone take the measurements automatically. The data is then sent back and processed to recommend the perfect size or design a custom device.
With the deployment of the Internet, the emergence of e-commerce, and the ease of using a smartphone, the boundaries between the delivered product and the patient are no longer limited. The cell phone is an everyday tool in people’s lives. It can be used anywhere and anytime!
Why rely on a mobile application?
Scans can be performed by the health professional or the patient. The use of the cell phone improves the comfort of the patients, simplifies the design process of the orthesis while guaranteeing a high precision.
The advantages are multiple:
- easy to use;
- almost everyone has a smartphone (in 2021, in France, according to INSEE, 77% of the population will have one);
- fast and immediate ;
- no intervention by the health professional (in some cases);
- no need for training;
- no need to move a patient to a 3D radiology center.
But most importantly, everyone knows how to use a smartphone, a simple application installed in one click is enough to have the MyFit Solutions technology. The applications developed in white label are available on IOS and Android.
