3D Printed Bronchus Saves Baby's Life

[Rydian]

As somebody that had breathing problems as a child, I know how limiting it can be. Most can people outgrow their breathing problems within a few years (two years of playing the trumpet really helped me), but when the problems start as an infant with a still-developing body, it can be a serious concern.

This was the case for Kaiba, who started being unable to breathe at just six weeks old. After a few weeks in a standard hospital, the family took Kaiba to the University of Michigan's Mott Children’s Hospital in order to check out a possible operation involving 3D printing new parts of his respiratory system.

It turns out that implanting 3D-printed organs in the US is currently illegal depending on the material, but the university was able to obtain special permission for a one-time operation. Kaiba had CT scans done, then a new bronchus 3D-printed from PCL (a popular material for studies and these tests as the body seems to accept it and it'll dissolve in 2-3 years) was modeled after the scans. The new tissue was sewn into place successfully.

It was amazing. As soon as the splint was put in, the lungs started going up and down for the first time and we knew he was going to be OK.

Source

I got it before Gahars, yayyyy!

 

[Gahars]

This development is breathtaking... or, rather, breath-giving.

 

[the_randomizer]

This development is breathtaking... or, rather, breath-giving.

I guess you could say this technology is a breath of fresh air.

 

[Qtis]

Read about this a week or so back on Ars Technica, but nevertheless still fantastic news. As I happen to have a few 3D printers available (Production Engineering at a University of Technology), this is interesting news. The things 3D printing can do so far is absolutely amazing and I can see a ton of other concepts being made in the long run.

 

[chyyran]

That's.. really amazing.

I wonder what else 3D printers would be able to do in terms of medical research, especially in the near future. Who knows..

 

[chavosaur]

That's so freaking cool
Technology is so astounding nowadays.
Baby has a nice name btw. Wonder if the parents were YuGiOh fans

 

[Walker D]

That's so freaking cool
Technology is so astounding nowadays.
Baby has a nice name btw. Wonder if the parents were YuGiOh fans

Hope that they were fans of the other Kaiba ...that would make the name even more awesome (since that anime is one of the best I've watched in recent times..)

Edit: Looks like the source is kinda wrong ...it didn't received new bronchus (that's one of the things that the source seemed to tell..). He only received a splint, that made his bronchus more open, so the limbs could work again (the 3d bronchus was just to test if the splint would fit)
You can see things more clearly in the video:

 

[Gh0sti]

the plastic was put into his body?

 

[Chary]

Woah. Trippy. The powers of technology are staggering. Glad that its working for the kid.

 

[Walker D]

the plastic was put into his body?

The "device" in question was 3D-printed from a biocompatible polymer known as polycaprolactone (PCL). PCL is growing in popularity in tissue engineering studies as it is generally gentle on the body and dissolves within two to three years -- providing structural support while the body recolonizes a damaged tissue.

Polycaprolactone is produced from caprolactone, a cyclic compound found in heated milk fat.

Check the Sause son ...there's also that handy video

 

[Gh0sti]

OK I get that a splint was put in but I'm just kind of not understanding how it works/how the splint works.

 

[BrightNeko]

I guess it was in the cards for him to live. :3 Hopefully stuff like this puts it forward to not make it illegal.

 

[Walker D]

OK I get that a splint was put in but I'm just kind of not understanding how it works/how the splint works.

Video.

it has the best demonstration of that ...not much that I can add to it.