December 19, 2022 at 14:00 hours – Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn went from the Golden Jubilee Convention Center of Khon Kaen University to visit Tawanchai Center and saw the operations of MobiiScan that HRH gave to the Center, and the works of the Center at the Dental Building, Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University.
Her Royal Highness the Princess’ arrived by car at the front of the Dental Building of the Faculty of Dentistry at 14:00 p.m. – Mr. Kaisorn Kongchalad, Khon Kaen Governor; Mr. Suthep Maneechote, Vice Governor of Khon Kaen; Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council; Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthingviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University; Assoc. Prof. Waranuch Pitiphat, Ph.D., D.D.S., Dean of the faculty of Dentistry; Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jirawutthipong, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Prof. Chukit Limpijamnong, M.D.: Prof. Bavornsil Chaochuen, M.D.; Assoc. Prof. Anoma Ratanajaroentham, M.D.; Assoc. Prof. Palakorn Surakulprapa, M.D.; Ajarn Putthathida Wangsrimongkhon, M.D.; and lecturers, staff members and students welcomed and showed HRH to the exhibition room that demonstrated the use of technology and innovation to plan and support treatment of patients with craniofacial disorders.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn watched the technological and innovation exhibitions as follows:
1. The mobile 3-dimension computer X-ray – MobiiScan, is the research and development work of the Office of National Science and Technology Development which was supported financially by the Foundation of Information Technology under the intention of HRH the Princess. The machine has been given by HRH to Tawanchai Center under the cooperation with the Faculty of Dentistry and the Faculty of Medicine of Khon Kaen University. The MobiiScan has undergone radiation-safety test at the Department of Medical Science, Ministry of Public Health; the electronics test at the Electrical and Electronics Products Testing Center (PTEC); and clinical tests. The machine has been authorized of its standard ISO 13485. It is outstanding as a mobile 3-dimension computer-x-ray machine from which the patient will receive less radiation than other general computer x-ray machines. It is used to take pictures of craniofacial organs for diagnosis and plan surgical treatment, making the patient receive in time efficient treatment. The MobiiScan is given to the Center by HRH and has been installed for its first operation since October 19, 2022 at the Outpatient Dental Clinic, Dental Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University.
2. The 3D Printing that is used to make virtual 3D model from medical photos of patients with craniofacial disorders. It is used for planning the treatment and surgery. Its advantages are in reducing surgery and recovery periods, and helping in anticipating the operational results more accurately.
3. The Thai Cleft Link program – a Web application that can be used with any Browser for storing baseline data of patients with cleft lips and palate by linking with the network of medical professionals and the multidisciplinary fields, with the data outreaching the network instead of the patients going themselves. Thus, the medical teams do not need to be in the same area or place.
4. The 6 exhibition boards of the work outcomes of Tawanchai Center:
Board No. 1 – The works during the 20 years of treatment of patients with cleft lips and palate and craniofacial disorders who received treatment at Tawanchai Center of Khon Kaen University. The patients were people in the Northeast and the neighboring countries.
Board No. 2 – Exhibition of MobiiScan in planning and showing treatment results from bone transplanting in patients with cleft lips and palate
Board No. 3 – Exhibition of Innovation of Digital Healthcare for treating patients with cleft lips and palate using Telemedicine that can develop the patients’ quality of life
Board No. 4 – Exhibition of the outcomes of the use of Nasal Creator Device to increase efficiency on lips and nasal surgery for patients with cleft lips and palate
Board No. 5 – Exhibition of the research and development of artificial bones for patients with cleft lips and palate to increase the efficiency of treatment and increase the quality of life of the patients
Board No. 6 – Exhibition of the use of the Digital KKU-NAM for newborns with cleft lips and palate
On this occasion, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn went to the front part of the 6th Anniversary Building, Faculty of Dentistry and had photographs taken with Khon Kaen University administrators, the Administrative Committee of the Faculty of Dentistry, the Administrative Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, the Administrative Committee of Tawanchai Center. Next, Assoc. Prof. Waranuch Pitipphat, Ph.D., D.D.S., Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry and Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jirawutthipong, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, presented to HRH pieces of silk from Chonnabot District, Khon Kaen.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn then left the 6th Anniversary Building, Faculty of Dentistry to see the tree planted by His Majesty King Rama IX on the occasion of His Majesty’s visit to Khon Kaen University on December 13, 1990. Her Royal Highness left Khon Kaen University at 14:45 p.m. to the Royal Guesthouse at the Office of Irrigation 6, Khon Kaen.
Tawanchai Center, Khon Kaen University is the complete caring center for patients with cleft lips and palate and patients with craniofacial disorders. The center’s responsibilities cover 5 aspects, namely health, education, living, socialization and building of willpower. The center works with 14 multidisciplinary fields under the cooperation with the Faculty of Dentistry and Faculty of Medicine. “Tawanchai” Project was authorized under the Royal intention on November 24, 2003. Then on December 20, 2004, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn came to officially open Tawanchai Center at the First Dental Clinic Building of the Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University.
Next, Tawanchai Center carried out the project, “Use of Digital Technology to Increase Efficiency in Treatment of Patients with Cleft Lips and Palate and Craniofacial Disorders”. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, as the Chairperson of the Foundation of Information Technology, has given the MobiiScan for the works under this project to Tawanchai Center, so that it can work with the patients who come to the Center for treatment. The machine has been installed and used until now with progress of the use of innovation for treatment and surgery that repair craniofacial disorders for patients so that their quality of life is improved.
News / Photos: Public Relation, Audiovisual and Video Unit, Working Committee for RH visit to Tawanchai Center
Watchara Noichompoo
