Online Vocational training course on design, manufacture and validation of custom-made orthopaedic, oral and cranio-maxillofacial devices. Erasmus Project

Project Title

Online Vocational training course on design, manufacture and validation of custom-made orthopaedic, oral and cranio-maxillofacial devices.

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Health and wellbeing; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Open and distance learning

Project Summary

In oral and cranio-maxillofacial surgery the best possible match between implants used and patient individual features and needs is crucial due to health and well-being reasons. There are cases, when standard implants cannot be used and custom-made implants are the only option, e.g. when a patient has abnormal anatomy or postoperative complications are possible.
Properly designed and produced custom-made implants enable to obtain structural, functional and biological compatibility with a patient, which brings a number of benefits related with aesthetic effect, quality of life, quicker and less invasive surgical operation, improved implant durability (next operations can be avoided or limited), reduced patient suffering. This causes a great demand for people who have competences in design and manufacturing of custom-made implants.
Development of free online course which enables to acquire competences in design and manufacturing of custom-made implants for oral and cranio-maxillofacial surgery was a challenge undertaken by the OVOMAX project consortium consisting of: Instytut Techniki Górniczej KOMAG – the coordinator, IBV Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia, AIDIMME Instituto Tecnológico Metalmecánico, Mueble, Madera, Embalaje y Afines, FENIN Federación Española de Empresas de Tecnología Sanitaria, ATEKNEA Solutions Hungary Kft. The objective was achieved. OVOMAX course provides state-of-the-art knowledge and skills for all steps of production process of custom-made implants used in oral and cranio-maxillofacial surgery:
– DESIGN of implants based on data from medical imagining like CT – computerized tomography and MR – magnetic resonance; use of CAD systems is included.
– VALIDATION of the implant design to assure that mechanical and functional requirements are met; use of advanced engineering methods & tools is presented, e.g. FEM – finite elements methods.
– MANUFACTURING. Application of 3D printing in manufacturing of implants is described and demonstrated. 3D printing gives wide possibilities and benefits: no limits regarding shape and complexity of 3D printed object and quick production. Materials used are continuously improved and invented also for medical purposes.
In the examples given, open source tools are used to improve the course usefulness.
The course is divided into modules. In each module a trainee can choose amount of material to browse/learn. There is obligatory content and complementary materials for trainees who wish to obtain wider knowledge. There is a self-evaluation test for each module and final exam for the whole course. The course is available in: English, Spanish, Polish and Hungarian.
Although OVOMAX course is addressed to staff involved in design and manufacturing of implants for oral and cranio-maxillofacial surgery, its content might be useful and interesting for persons related with other healthcare areas. Knowledge and abilities acquired will serve the trainees as a solid ground for their continuous vocational development, keeping their competences update and relevant to market demands.
To make the course truly useful, first a survey and interviews with course target group representatives were carried out in project partners’ countries and beyond. Based on information obtained, curriculum of the course was defined. It was the basis for the prototype OVOMAX course development. The course was tested by target group representatives. Pilot tests were carried out in all project partners’ countries. 84 trial trainees went through the whole course and filled in Satisfactory survey. Based on the feedback, expected modifications were introduced in the final version of the course and it was translated into Polish, Spanish and Hungarian.
The project partners’ expertise contributed to high quality of the OVOMAX course. KOMAG carries out scientific and R&D projects in the domain of minerals mining and processing, environment protection work safety and other, and implements their results. They also realize activities in many other areas due to versatile competences and expertise in modern technologies, engineering and multimedia materials development. IBV studies the behavior of the human body and its interaction with products, environments and services. They promote people’s well-being through the combination of knowledge in areas such as biomechanics, ergonomics and emotional engineering, and its application to diverse sectors. AIDIMME is a private non-profit association whose aim is to foster improvement in competitiveness of companies in the metal processing sector – through R&D related both to processes and products. FENIN is a multi-sector federation that groups manufacturing, import and distribution companies and associations related with healthcare technologies and products which are provided to all the Spanish healthcare institutions. ATEKNEA is a technology centre providing SMEs with services in R&D to help them turn their ideas into profitable, innovative solutions.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 308626,94 Eur

Project Coordinator

INSTYTUT TECHNIKI GORNICZEJ KOMAG & Country: PL

Project Partners

• INSTITUTO DE BIOMECANICA DE VALENCIA
• FEDERACION ESPANOLA DE EMPRESAS DE TECNOLOGIA SANITARIA (FENIN)
• ATEKNEA SOLUTIONS HUNGARY KFT
• INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO METALMECANICO, MUEBLE, MADERA, EMBALAJE Y AFINES-AIDIMME