{"id":4500,"date":"2021-03-16T09:13:50","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T08:13:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/am-hub.dk\/cases\/the-3d-printed-invention-quickfact-improves-hospital-sample-collection\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T13:16:25","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T11:16:25","slug":"the-3d-printed-invention-quickfact-improves-hospital-sample-collection","status":"publish","type":"cases","link":"https:\/\/am-hub.dk\/en\/cases\/the-3d-printed-invention-quickfact-improves-hospital-sample-collection\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3D-printed invention \u2018Quickfact\u2019 improves hospital sample collection"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In <\/span>Improved Product & Functionality<\/a>, <\/span>Medtech<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n

The 3D-printed invention \u2018Quickfact\u2019 improves hospital sample collection<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n
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An easier and more comfortable process for both the hospital and the patients<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n

Every year, around 130,000 stool samples are taken from inpatients to check for infections and bacteria<\/span>, but until now the method has been cumbersome, expensive, and <\/span>hard on patients.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, Zealand University Hospital<\/a> came up with an idea for a new method \u2013 called <\/span>Quickfact<\/span> \u2013 <\/span>in which a<\/span> collection tube <\/span>is inserted into the rectum to take the stool samples. <\/span>And that very tube<\/span> has been<\/span> product-developed through a programme with Dansk AM Hub<\/a> using <\/span> F<\/span>ree<\/span> Injection<\/span> Molding<\/span> (FIM).<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe immediately saw the potential in 3D-printing <\/span>Quickfact<\/span>, because suddenly we could realise our project with limited resources. Without FIM, we would not have been able to complete our project<\/span>,\u201d says <\/span>research engineer Anders <\/span>Ohlhues<\/span> Baandrup, who <\/span>is part of the team behind <\/span>the technical part of the solution<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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Measurable results<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n

This is how much Zealand University Hospital has saved<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n
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The case: Overview and context<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n

The new product has many benefits for patients, staff, and the hospital. Today <\/span>the patient must provide a stool sample in a bedpan, which the nurse then collects in a tube. It is often difficult and hard to obtain a \u201cclean\u201d sample without urine, because the patient is often exhausted after a severe bout of diarrhoea. As a result, it can take<\/span> several <\/span>days before the stool sample is taken and treatment can begin. And during that period, the patient must <\/span>due to<\/span> <\/span>the risk of infection be in <\/span>(costly) <\/span>isolation.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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Quickfact says about:<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n

Product: <\/span><\/b>The technology gets top<\/span> marks because it is a paradigm shift. Instead of traditional product development with one expensive shot in the dark and a potentially half-finished end product, we can test and optimise continuously. It is a <\/span> gamechanger<\/span> for us, where tolerances are so tight. <\/span>Quickfact<\/span> simply <\/span>would not <\/span>have been possible <\/span>without<\/span> FIM<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>t is a <\/span>gamechanger<\/span>.
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Time: <\/span><\/b>Where we previously had a product in 3\u20134 weeks, it now takes a couple of hours. And the same applies to the sampling itself with the product. Previously it took 2\u20133 days before we had a \u201cclean\u201d sample; now we can have it within a few hours and thus start the right treatment sooner as well. <\/p>\n

Economy:<\/strong> <\/span>The technology makes it possible to achieve a great deal with limited resources.<\/span> Previously, we spent at least DKK 500,000 on development and prototypes, but with FIM we have spent DKK 15,000. <\/span>It is a revolution.<\/span> In this way, 3D printing opens up a new segment \u2013 not only in Denmark, but globally \u2013 where innovation can be achieved with limited resources. <\/span>Finally, we save on shorter hospital stays in isolation, which otherwise cost approximately DKK 10,000 per day while we wait for a \u201cclean\u201d sample and its result.<\/p>\n

Sustainability: <\/b>This technology is a real snowflake when it comes to the green footprint. Typically, our moulds are made the old-fashioned way, which requires enormous amounts of energy \u2013 here it is less energy and <\/span>a smaller CO2 footprint.<\/span> For us, it also contributes to our green transition because we reduce transport by having the machines at the hospital. That is only possible if we can take the samples quickly, and that has become possible with Quickfact<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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Results from programmes with Dansk AM Hub<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n