Author: Abbie

DT Y1- Abbie Brash

3D Printing saved babies life-

Brief description- An operation in the US was carried out that included creating a breathing device using a 3D printer to save a babies life. The baby, Kaiba Gionfriddo was six weeks old when his parents begged for help, after he collapsed at a restaurant. For the next few months, he would stop breathing often and would have to be resuscitated practically everyday. The print was necessary because Kaiba was born with the main arteries of his hart and lungs misplaced, and they were blocking his windpipe causing tracheobronchomalacia, a rare condition that most children grow out of, but his was a severe case. Doctors worked with a biomedical engineer at the University of Michigan to create a device that was implanted in Kaiba’s chest, sort of like a vacuum cleaner that acted as a splint that would keep his airway open. Three weeks later, he was taken off the ventilator and has not had any breathing troubles since, meaning this 3D printed splint saved his life.

A quote from Professor Hollister says “Kaiba’s case is the highlight of my career. To build something that a surgeon can use to save someone’s life – it’s a tremendous feeling.” I think this is an amazing way to use 3D printers, as they can now save lives. By printing this splint, the baby was able to breathe and therefore survive, whereas without it, Kaiba would have certainly died. Though Kaiba’s case was an emergency, being able to produce parts to save one’s life like that is any doctors dream, and there are huge benefits to being able to do that because if you can produce a part like that, soon they’ll figure out how to produce other parts. Who knows, in the future we may be living double what we are now if we can produce another heart, lungs and liver. Having said that, there are also huge ethical issues that go along with the bonuses of 3D printing parts. If we are able to print all of these parts and save people, we are kind of going against what we have always known, and don’t know what effects it may have. People need to die in order for the population to not get any worse, dying is just a part of life. But now being able to 3D print parts means there can be lots more people saved, which for them may be good but in the long run it will be negative for the society.

“Splint made by 3D printer used to save baby’s life – Health News – Health & Families – The Independent.” The Independent | News | UK and Worldwide News | Newspaper. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013. <http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/splint-made-by-3d-printer-used-to-save-babys-life-8627590.html>.

” Baby’s Life Saved with 3D Printing | LiveScience .” Science News – Science Articles and Current Events | LiveScience. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013. <http://www.livescience.com/34613-3d-printing-airway-splint.html>.

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