Billings Receives New 3D Laser-Scanning Technology

Billings Receives New 3D Laser-Scanning Technology
Media Invited to Experience Laser, Meet Area's First Patient Recipient, Meet
Local Practitioner Certified in the Technology 


BILLINGS, Mont., Sept. 24  /PRNewswire/ -- A red laser swipes over a part of
your body and a three-dimensional replica, accurate to within one millimeter,
instantly appears on a computer screen in front of your eyes. Sounds like a
scene out of the latest science fiction movie, doesn't it? Well, it's not; it's
the latest patient treatment experience right here in Billings.

Thanks to a newly developed motion-tracking laser scanner and 3D software
called Insignia, Billings residents needing prosthetic and orthotic care can
experience a medical advancement that is revolutionizing patient treatment.

On Thursday, September 30 media are invited to experience the new technology
firsthand, see live demonstrations, meet the area's first recipient of the
technology, and meet with Billing's first Insignia-certified practitioners.

            Thursday, September 30, 2004 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
       Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. (locally Montana O & P)
                           3400 1st Ave. North
                            Billings, MT 59101
                               406-252-5833

          * Live demonstrations of the Insignia scanning process
              versus the traditional plaster casting method
                       at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.



What does it do?  When an amputee needs a prosthetic device to replace an arm
or leg, or when a patient needs an orthotic brace such as a spinal jacket or
cranial helmet, a practitioner must obtain a representation of the patient's
body part in order to develop a custom-fitting prosthetic or orthotic device. 
In the past, this has largely been done using a messy, invasive, and often
inconsistent method of plaster casting.  Insignia offers a faster, cleaner, and
less invasive alternative.  Using the laser scanner, a highly accurate
three-dimensional replica can be captured within seconds. Traditional casting
methods can take up to thirty minutes and require the patient to be wrapped in
wet, messy plaster.

Meet one of Billing's first patients to be fit with Insignia, Mark Shockley. 
Billings, MT resident Mark Shockley is a below the knee amputee who has been
fit with both the traditional plaster casting method as well being fit with
Insignia.  "Insignia is a big improvement over plaster casting. There is less
mess and it's so fast and easy," said Shockley.  Shockley will be on site for
demonstrations and interviews. 

DATASOURCE: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc.



CONTACT:  Desiree Voinche  of Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc.,

[phone], or 



Web site:  http://www.hanger.com/

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