“When the drone landed,” says Dr. Amukele, “we drove the samples 62 miles to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. We performed 19 chemistry and hematology tests and found that samples that were flown and those that were not flown showed similar results for red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts and sodium levels. There were minor statistically significant but small differences found in glucose and potassium levels, which also showed variation in standard transport methods (e.g., automobile transport). These were because of chemical degradation from slightly warmer temperature in the samples that were not flown.”
And how does Dr. Amukele envision drones being used in the orthopedic world? “I see three ways that they could be practical in orthopedics,” he says. “First, the delivery of medical samples such as bone or blood that is destined for a laboratory. Small items such as surgical equipment could also be handled by a drone. There are drones that can lift a human being, but I don’t see drones replacing ambulances or trucks. I think they are an answer for small cargo of high value. The second use in orthopedics could be small surgical or pharmaceutical cargo. The third would be the delivery of blood to patients in remote areas.”
“There is already a company in East Africa—Zipline—that is using drones to deliver blood products to 21 transfusing facilites. If, for example, an obstetric patient starts to bleed unexpectedly, it is critical to get blood to the mother as fast as possible. We differ from them because they only do blood products; we see ourselves as becoming a full transportation service.”
But not quite yet, says Dr. Amukele. “We need to complete the validation experiments first, then we can establish a company.”
As for other plans, Dr. Amukele told OTW, “In early 2018 we are starting a new project to deliver medicines to clinics in northeastern Namibia. This is an area that typically has lots of flooding, so drones are especially helpful.”
“We receive requests all the time from individuals and companies here in the states to come install a drone network. Many of these institutions have locations scattered over areas where there is lots of traffic. Like many states their roads were built for a 1960s population…and now things need to move faster.”
And while there may be some turbulence on the road to progress, the drones are here to stay. Dr. Amukele told OTW, “Drones can operate where there are no roads, and overcome conditions that cars and trucks cannot handle. In the 21st century they will be increasingly indispensable for prompt patient diagnoses and care.”
“I decided to get on board and learn about drones. The fact is that people’s needs are broader than my imagination.”
To learn more about this work, visit medicaldrones.org.
