The future of 3D printing is bright not only in tech and fashion, but also in health care. At least 3 kids, for example, have been saved from a windpipe built on a 3D printer.
A group of researchers who work at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in University of Michigan shared the good news of three boys who received a stent made from a biomaterial printed in a 3D printer and are now able to breathe properly. Based on their follow-up with them, the technology is definitely promising. The story is now available in Science Translational Medicine.
These three small boys all suffered from pediatric TBM (tracheobronchomalacia), one of the tracheal diseases. According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, this illness is characterized by the weakening of the walls of the airways, which can eventually lead to collapse. This then restricts correct breathing and sometimes a stoppage of the heart.
For the children, they designed a splint or a stent that can help keep the airways open at all times. Before, a tube usually made of silicone is used. While this works, it is also complicated since it demands a long healing process and the possibility of respiratory arrest. With the 3D printer, they were able to design a splint that is acceptable by the body and is resorbable. They can also easily customize the design to truly fit the child.
Since they are still young, the stent can help provide support for the cartilage, which the researchers hope will become stronger as they grow up.
However, they explained that this technique may work on patients with mild to moderate cases. Those with severe conditions, especially those who are at a very high risk of dying from the disease, may need a more aggressive form of therapy. They also mentioned that the best time to perform the procedure is within the first 2 to 3 years of the child.
