Taichung City Fire Bureau Develops Taiwan's First 3D-Printed Tracheostomy Training Model, Wins Titanium Award at Green Idea International Invention Expo

The Taichung City Government Fire Bureau has demonstrated exceptional independent research and development capabilities by collaborating with industry, government, and medical sectors to successfully create Taiwan's first patented '3D-printed tracheostomy airway training model.' This innovative invention participated in the '8th Green Idea International Invention and Design Competition,' standing out among numerous entries and winning the 'Titanium Award,' marking a significant achievement in emergency medical innovation for Taichung City.

The Fire Bureau noted that in pre-hospital emergency care, incidents of 'tracheostomy tube blockage or dislodgement' among home-care patients have historically been extremely high-risk emergencies. However, high-fidelity tracheostomy training manikins on the market are mostly imported from abroad, with unit prices starting from tens of thousands of New Taiwan dollars and consumables being equally expensive. This situation has made it difficult to widely distribute high-end training equipment to基层 fire stations, limiting frontline emergency medical technicians (EMTs) from receiving sufficient and frequent hands-on training.

To address this training challenge, rescue instructor Chuang Yao-chung proposed the concept of 'technological independence and local production.' Collaborating with Dr. Huang Tai-lin from the Emergency Medicine Department at Tong General Hospital and Dr. Weng Jui-yu from Tuobi Technology, the team underwent dozens of development and refinement cycles to successfully create a patented training tool that is 'low-cost, high-fidelity, and modular,' breaking the market monopoly of traditional imported manikins.

This innovative training model overcomes the technical limitations of traditional silicone molding by fully integrating advanced digital imaging and multi-material 3D printing technologies. The development team precisely reconstructed the anatomical structure and angles from the larynx to the trachea based on clinical CT scan data. More importantly, the model features a unique three-layer material design that provides realistic haptic feedback; trainees can clearly feel the tension of real skin and the resistance of tracheal cartilage during palpation and intubation, effectively preventing the formation of incorrect muscle memory due to unrealistic simulators. Additionally, its patented 'quick-detach modular' design targets high-wear areas, allowing damaged components to be replaced independently, significantly reducing long-term maintenance costs.

Medical and technology experts involved in the development have given high praise to this achievement. Dr. Huang Tai-lin from Tong General Hospital stated that precise, high-fidelity training tools can greatly enhance EMTs' skills and confidence when facing tracheostomy emergencies. Dr. Weng Jui-yu from Tuobi Technology also remarked that this patent undoubtedly represents a significant milestone for Taiwan in advancing autonomous development of emergency medical education tools.

The Fire Bureau emphasized that winning the 'Titanium Award' is the best recognition of the team's innovative capabilities. In the future, this low-cost, high-fidelity training model will be widely promoted to基层 fire stations, significantly increasing EMTs' practical training hours, further strengthening frontline rescue capabilities, improving pre-hospital emergency care quality, and providing the most robust safeguard for the lives of all Taichung citizens.