Medical Simulation Models From Egg Waste

As the inaugural project of SMART-C, students are recycling eggshells and plant seeds to create realistic anatomical models for training medical radiography students. Eggshells are composed primarily of calcium carbonate, giving them radiographic properties similar to human bone (calcium makes up 50% by volume of bone/teeth). This makes them uniquely suited for producing realistic, low-cost x-ray and computer tomography (CT) medical simulators while diverting food waste from disposal. These materials will be used for hands-on training for radiography students to practice capturing and processing medical images with difficult anatomy.

Above is an image of a CT scan of a simulated spine segment created from eggshell powder and sesame seeds. We've partnered with the Gather commercial kitchen (UBC Food Services) to collect and process their eggshell waste in a pilot project.