Lifecast Body Simulation turned the movie industry around - its models were so lifelike they were almost indistinguishable from real people, as is the case in Black Hawk Fall, Saving the Soldier. Ryan, the Fast and Furious film series, and many more. But since the pandemic wave of Covid-19, the team has been contacted by British healthcare professionals as part of medical training
On March 23, 2020, two weeks before lockdown began in the UK, Lifecast BodySim donated five mannequins to NHS Nightingale Hospitals - provisional field hospitals set up to respond to the influx of patients from the Covid-19.
Initially, 2,000 British healthcare professionals were trained on these five mannequins to take care of patients suffering from respiratory complications linked to Covid-19. The training required working with respirators, ventilators and incubators in an emergency.
The hyperrealism of the mannequins was made possible by the attention to detail of the 3D scanner (an Artec Eva), especially when scanning and reproducing details of a human face.
For centuries, a method known as life casting (lifecasting) has been used to create 3D copies of living human bodies through molding and casting. It takes a total of at least three hours to mold a whole body, compared to just a few minutes with the scan.
While molding currently has the advantage of being known and allowing details to be acquired in a mold made directly from the body, professionals are increasingly turning to 3D scanning, partially or completely. “We get a much more realistic impression with the scan. Unlike casting, scanning keeps your eyes open, for example, says John Schoonraad, CEO of Lifecast Body Simulation. Another advantage of 3D scanning is its speed, which allows you to rescan facial expressions or body positions just in case. "
Anatomically human mannequins
The mannequins are not limited to their authentic appearance: it is also possible to simulate breathing movements or heartbeats.
Each manikin has a camera embedded in the throat, this is used for intubation training and allows caregivers to practice how to properly place a throat probe.
In order to supply the American nursing staff, a production center has opened in Florida.
"In this strange period that we are going through today because of Covid-19, it is quite remarkable that people are looking to use 3D scanning technologies to protect people on the front lines" , underlines the dealer from Artec 3D scanners, Patrick Thorn.