3-D Printing Prosthetics by Cameron Norman
There are between 10 and 15 million amputees in the world. People who go through the hardship of losing a limb go through an incredible amount of pain each day. Not only this, but attempting to get a prosthetic limb that may allow them to function as they used to, is not only a difficult, costly process but it also does not lessen the emotional pain of having to live without a limb. With 3D Printing becoming an increasingly popular new technology, companies have begun to utilize 3D printing in the medical world. This technology may allow patients to get prosthetics at a much more affordable price.
What is 3D Printing?
Image result for 3d printing
According to 3dhubs.com, 3D printing is an additive …show more content…
The benefits of 3D printing are not only found within the prosthetic world. 3D printing can be used to create a variety of bodily organs. Currently, 3D printing is being used to make a variety of medical implants. According to Professor David Dean, at Ohio State University, the problems that plagued older technology are a thing of the past. He states that 3D printing has given major hospitals the ability to use specially-printed implants that are customized to each patient. These new implants are typically printed and delivered to hospitals on the same day.
3D printed implants include the following: A skull that was implanted successfully into the head of a woman, blood vessels, kidneys, bones, skin, ears
3D printing is proving to be an astonishing technology, particularly in pediatric medicine. It has been reported in the British press that each child that suffers the loss of an ear, or those who have disfiguring ear injuries or defects, will be given 3D printed ears in the near future.
Image result for 3d printing …show more content…
It would be left there to develop blood vessels, and after a period of time, the ear would be attached to its usual position at the side of the head. The technology has already been shown to work. Ears have been grown on the backs of rats, and it is just a small step to apply the technology to human beings. Human trials are to begin in the very near future in the United Kingdom and in India. The technology has widespread application, especially as a great many children are born without ears in India and other parts of Asia. In fact, the problem is massive, and the need is pressing. Indeed, there are already numerous children in Mumbai waiting to take part in the upcoming trial, so dire is the need there. The current procedure for replacing or repairing ears involves the process of removing cartilage from another part of the body, such as the rib. It is a rather involved procedure that is both invasive and painful for the patient. With 3D printing, being able to just print off an ear using 3D printing technology means that the surgeon would only have to perform one operation, compared to the four or five operations that are currently necessary. It is easy to see, then, that 3D printing can save each child a lot of fear, pain and discomfort.
With the 3D technique, scientists scan the undamaged ear and then flip the picture, thereby creating a mirror image copy to make a life-like
There are between 10 and 15 million amputees in the world. People who go through the hardship of losing a limb go through an incredible amount of pain each day. Not only this, but attempting to get a prosthetic limb that may allow them to function as they used to, is not only a difficult, costly process but it also does not lessen the emotional pain of having to live without a limb. With 3D Printing becoming an increasingly popular new technology, companies have begun to utilize 3D printing in the medical world. This technology may allow patients to get prosthetics at a much more affordable price.
What is 3D Printing?
Image result for 3d printing
According to 3dhubs.com, 3D printing is an additive …show more content…
The benefits of 3D printing are not only found within the prosthetic world. 3D printing can be used to create a variety of bodily organs. Currently, 3D printing is being used to make a variety of medical implants. According to Professor David Dean, at Ohio State University, the problems that plagued older technology are a thing of the past. He states that 3D printing has given major hospitals the ability to use specially-printed implants that are customized to each patient. These new implants are typically printed and delivered to hospitals on the same day.
3D printed implants include the following: A skull that was implanted successfully into the head of a woman, blood vessels, kidneys, bones, skin, ears
3D printing is proving to be an astonishing technology, particularly in pediatric medicine. It has been reported in the British press that each child that suffers the loss of an ear, or those who have disfiguring ear injuries or defects, will be given 3D printed ears in the near future.
Image result for 3d printing …show more content…
It would be left there to develop blood vessels, and after a period of time, the ear would be attached to its usual position at the side of the head. The technology has already been shown to work. Ears have been grown on the backs of rats, and it is just a small step to apply the technology to human beings. Human trials are to begin in the very near future in the United Kingdom and in India. The technology has widespread application, especially as a great many children are born without ears in India and other parts of Asia. In fact, the problem is massive, and the need is pressing. Indeed, there are already numerous children in Mumbai waiting to take part in the upcoming trial, so dire is the need there. The current procedure for replacing or repairing ears involves the process of removing cartilage from another part of the body, such as the rib. It is a rather involved procedure that is both invasive and painful for the patient. With 3D printing, being able to just print off an ear using 3D printing technology means that the surgeon would only have to perform one operation, compared to the four or five operations that are currently necessary. It is easy to see, then, that 3D printing can save each child a lot of fear, pain and discomfort.
With the 3D technique, scientists scan the undamaged ear and then flip the picture, thereby creating a mirror image copy to make a life-like