How can 3D printing help patients in their daily lives? This question was asked by 40 students, participants of the first 3D PRINTING HACKATHON, which took place from March 6 to 7 at the Innovation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region (ICUK). Over the course of 24 hours, high school students from Ústí nad Labem, Litoměřice, Litvínov, Teplice and Roudnice nad Labem worked on functional prototype devices that could make life easier for people with various health limitations or help medical staff in their daily activities.

The hackathon started with the formation of teams, where participants chose original name and they divided roles according to your skills and interestsAfter the initial introduction, there was an intensive brainstorming, during which teams identified specific problems in healthcare that could be solved using 3D printing.

After the survey existing solutions have embarked on design of own innovations – from the first sketches and specification of key features to the creation of 3D models on the computer. Once the design was ready, it was time for prototype production on a 3D printer, which teams could influence by completing special tasks to obtain additional materials or time. The hackathon was built on repeated iterations, where teams tested their prototypes in several rounds, adjusted the design and improved the functionality of their products. Before the prototyping itself, professional lecture on the topic "How to use 3D printing and what it is suitable for in the healthcare sector", which was presented by representatives of the Faculty of Health Studies, UJEP, Martin Hlavatý and Ondřej Vacek.

Each team had 30 minutes and 100g of PLA filament to build a prototype. To gain extra time or filament, teams had the opportunity to complete various tasks that sometimes required physics, sometimes logical reasoning, sometimes poetic guts.

After 24 hours of intensive work, the printers stopped, and the expert jury had ten teams, ten unique projects, and ten innovative solutions before them:

• KUWAIT & BRICK HOUSE (Jakub Jan Vargončik, Jan Brož and Václav Pucek from the Ústí nad Labem Secondary Industrial School, Resslova): mechanical finger replacement for amputees;
• Those who know UWU (Rostislav Pražák, Lenka Voglová and Martin Černý from Teplice Gymnasium): a device for protecting the mouth from injury during an epileptic seizure;
• PrintScript (Jan Svoboda, Klára Rosová, Artem Bratychak, Jirka Klíma and Mykhailo Slobodianiuk from the Private Secondary Vocational School (1.KSPA) Litoměřice, information technology major): multifunctional massage tool with four interchangeable heads for reducing stress and tension;
• 3D1 (Jakub Lipš, Jakub Bůžek, Mirek Láznička and Petr Stařeček from the Secondary Industrial School, Ústí nad Labem, Resslova, Higher Vocational School of Health and Secondary School of Health Ústí nad Labem and Higher Vocational School and Secondary Vocational School of Roudnice nad Labem): a cheap and accessible version of a pressure bandage;
• Hood Council (Tomáš Vanča, Martin Smyčka, Alexander Hlušička, Jindřich Polák and Ondřej Svoboda from the Private Secondary Vocational School (1.KSPA) Litoměřice, information technology field): removable finger orthosis, allowing hygiene and freedom of movement of the other fingers;
• Absolute engineering (Matěj Chaloupka, Petr Matouch, Dominik Macoun, Štěpán Prskavec and Daniel Prášek from the Ústí nad Labem Secondary Industrial School, Resslova): a mechanical aid that allows you to strengthen your hand grip without the need for an electric drive;
• Button (Jan Vaic, Viktor Stránský, Matyáš Hamouz, Tadeáš Tichý and Jiří Hromádka from the Private Secondary Vocational School (1.KSPA) Litoměřice, information technology major): a specially placed medicine box that helps patients not to forget their dosage;
• Wolf's Lair (Jakub Michálek, Adam Michálek, Tomáš Vlček and Ondřej Špičák from the Litvínov eight-year grammar school): an ergonomic turnkey attachment for easier handling by people with reduced fine motor skills;
• Mourning Chests (Prokop Moravec, Vladimír Mařík and Antonín Bárta from the Ústí nad Labem Secondary Industrial School, Resslova): a labyrinth for practicing motor skills, logical thinking and cognitive functions;
• Elephant Joachim (Marek Paňko, Ondřej Lukáš, Adam Novotný, Jan Sládek and Michal Pešek from the Jateční Gymnasium Ústí nad Labem): a medicine dispenser with Braille, allowing for clear dosing and easy handling of medicines.

Before the competitors presented their product, explained its benefits and showed how it could help in practice, MUDr. Novotný from the Regional Health Service took the floor with a workshop on the use of 3D printing in healthcare. Then the competition presentations followed. The expert jury consisting of Jan Wedlich (ICUK), Ondřej Vacek (Faculty of Health Studies, UJEP) and Zbyněk Rudolf (Technical Club Litoměřice and Prusa Research) evaluated the functionality, innovation and practical usability of the projects.

On third place Two teams placed – Elephant Joachim and ButtonBoth teams focused on making drug dosing easier, but they approached each solution completely differently. Second place occupied the team Wolf's Lair with a key tool. These places were awarded with filaments. The winner was the team 3D1who received MK4S 3D printer and more the opportunity to participate in the "Startup Go" business incubator. The company donated the prizes for the competition. Prusa ResearchEach participant received a commemorative medal - printed on a 3D printer, of course.

"It was fascinating to watch how the teams were able to turn ideas into real prototypes in one day. Some of them have great potential for further development and use in practice," said Jan Wedlich from ICUK.

The event was organized by Matouš Kostomlatský, who led it together with the RUR team: Fabiána Bytyqi, Karolína Macková, Daniel Trnka, and Tamara Klein. "We wanted to show that 3D printing is not just a technological toy, but a tool that can truly improve the quality of life. The participants not only tried working with 3D printing, but also thought about real patient problems and their practical solutions. The results exceeded our expectations and some projects have great potential for the future," added Kostomlatsky.

The first year of the 3D PRINTING HACKATHON showed that the combination of modern technologies, creativity and practical needs can lead to innovative solutions with a real impact. The competitors proved that within 24 hours it is possible not only to design, but also to create functional prototypes that can make life easier for people with various limitations. The great success of the event and the enthusiasm of the participants are a clear signal that the next hackathon will not be long in coming. The organizers are already thinking about a new challenge and an area that could inspire further breakthrough ideas.