Chapter Spotlight also available in Google Docs

Site & Community

• Chapter located in Khon Kaen, Thailand
• In partnership with Sirindhorn Hospital
• Operating since August 2017
• Over 100 recipients

Thai Reach was founded by the husband and wife team of James Quilty and Dr. Pariyasoot Intasuwan in partnership with Sirindhorn Public Hospital. The hospital was founded as a resource inside a community with Hansen's Disease (leprosy).

Now a general hospital, the center specializes in the treatment of infectious diseases. The hospital embraced the use of 3D printing after a small trial project was proposed to the local Hansen’s community of about 400 residents.

Today, the team treats everyone from toddlers to seniors from all over Thailand as well as recipients from neighboring countries (5 years to over 80 years old). They have provided 106 recipients with e-NABLE devices while another 20 are in progress. The majority of recipients are local in the Northeastern region of Thailand. They have served individuals in Laos and Myanmar and provided consulting for groups in Nepal and Vietnam.

View Media Album

Tech & Specs

• 10-12 Metzbot printers (PRUSA MK2 & MK3 clones)
• 1 Ultimaker MK3 printer
• 1 Flash force printer
• 1 Ender 3 printer
• 1 Cubic Chiron printer (with flexible filament)
• 1 Einscan 3D scanner
• A sewing machine for straps, cloth and leather.

The team has printed about 140 hands and arms, including the Phoenix V2, Unlimbited arm, Flexyhand, Knick fingers, NIOP arm, (Helix Cuff, Shell Go, Kwawo 2), the Dexterity hand, Motogripper, and the Customizable Universal Cuff Utensil Holder. They have printed several others for research and development. The team has published several remix editions including a pencil holder attachment for the Phoenix V2 and Unlimbited arm, a pen holder for the Utensil Holder, and created their own armband strap system with attachments and connectors.

Training programs have included 1 day, 3 day, and 3 week courses to participants from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. Technical workshops include projects in 3D modeling using OpenSCAD, Tinkercad, Fusion 360, and slicer programs. Their collection of educational materials is available online.

Team & Specialties

1 full-time | 6 part-time | 35 volunteers

• Mana | Prosthetist, Lab Director
• Dr. Pariyasoot Intasuwan | Co-Founder, Psychiatrist
• James Quilty | Co-Founder, CTO
• Kung Rada | Physical Therapist
• Dr. Weerasak Auntaungkoon | Hospital Director, Chair
• Salout | Prosthetist (Orthopedics Department)
• Dr. Ball Amornthep | Tech Support, Esan3D Founder

Public Health | Rehabilitation | Community Outreach

The team is experienced with public services, senior populations (veterans, leprosy), occupational therapy, community service rehabilitation, research, international training and curriculum, chapter mentoring, and Asean Leadership.

Thai Reach’s 35 volunteers form a network of doctors, professors, teachers, engineers, and technicians. Partnerships include Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen’s Technical University, Saha Pat corporation group, Esan 3D, Sai Jai Thai Royal Patronage, and Burma Medical Children's Fund.

Design & Process

The lab is located inside Sirindhorn Hospital and functions within the orthopedics department. Following medical regulations of Thailand, any prosthesis requires participation in their training program with a physical therapist. The traditional orthotics department is next door to the lab (producing mostly lower legs and cosmetic hands). Several staff are shared between neighboring offices as well as knowledge, medical tools, and general services such as plaster casting. Thai Reach has developed outreach beyond the hospital and immediate region, functioning as a central hub to cover Thailand’s needs and provide resources for the ASEAN region.

Projects & Collaborations

Thai Reach EMG Project Thai Reach leads a community group to explore technologies for a low cost mechanical bionic arm. The group includes leaders in 3D printing, professors, doctors, mechanical engineers, and local government. The collaboration exists through Line, a mobile application popular in Thailand.

Tiem4Tiem Project Thai Reach connected with the Saha Pat corporation at the Singularity Conference. The cooperation covers companies in the fashion industry including Bangkok Rubber which produces Pan Shoes, Thailand’s oldest shoe company. They have been exploring 3D printing shoes with a workshop of 100 Cubic printers. Thai Reach taught Pan’s designers to make Phoenix and Kwawu hands as well as Unlimbited arms while collaborating on the Sai Jai Thai Veteran's Project (below). Pan’s team introduced Thai Reach to Kevlar surfacing on their devices and gifted a Cubrc printer capable of flexible filament.

Sai Jai Thai Veteran's Project Thai Reach developed a pilot project with Sai Jai Thai Royal Patronage to create devices for 18 veterans. They introduced each participant to a custom Unlimbited device, followed by a Kwawu hand during a second round of devices. The team continues to explore devices for this group through the EMG project (above).

Research

Thai Reach has completed an academic paper entitled ‘7 Hand Functions using the Phoenix V2 in Hansen’s Patients’ which describes their process of using e-NABLE devices as well as development of their relationships with community members. This paper was submitted to the Caresource Singapore conference along with an initial study on Amniotic Band Syndrome involving 20 children and co-authored with an OBGYN doctor. Both are available in Thai and English.

A paper has been written and published on the physical therapy process which focuses on the Hansen’s community. The hospital director also wrote about their model of open source prosthetics within the Orthopedics department and how it functions within the public health system in Thailand. Both are available only in Thai.

The team continues to print and explore new hand designs, contributes remixes to the community and develops adaptations (see Tech and Specs above).

Funding & Sustainability

As described above in Design & Process, the lab works in unison with a hospital in the public healthcare system of Thailand. The team shares hospital staff but relies on donations to cover infrastructure costs. Their donation network has mainly developed through word of mouth, including a local rice mill, a local appliance store, a Vespa dealer, and local celebrity advocates (champion athletes known for running and cycling). Through charity events, the team also has partnered with business groups and named printers after donors. Donors get publicity, the team always documents with group pictures, following visits with written letters that allow for tax write-offs. The chapter is not an individual non-profit but under the umbrella of the hospital within the public health system. Two funds exist for donated funds, one managed by the hospital and another managed by the lab.

While the team provides free training in their workshops, participants cover their own room, board, and food. E-Nable Canada has donated supplies and sent volunteers to participate in training programs. As a model, a gift economy requires less paperwork.

Public Presence

• Website: www.thaireach.org/
• YouTube: channel/UCJwb7JArzLLFSEcDujMd2Zw
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thailandreach/

Thai Reach has benefited from support and personal visits from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, which inspired several initial TV appearances and a short segment on Thailand’s health channel.The team has participated in dozens of national conferences where they give speeches, demonstrate live 3D printing, share devices, and distribute brochures in English and Thai. Representatives have joined eNABLEcon in the US and Ottawa Makercon in Canada. They host a YouTube Channel and actively connect with local communities through Facebook and Line.