Nuno R. B. Martins, PhD

A bulgarian patient with abnormality in a rib bone which could lead to pulmonary complications, has received a 3D-printed rib Implant. The 3D printed rib took on day to be created and was created at a fraction of the cost of creating a similar rib from titanium.

3DGence and 3dbgprint, two 3D printing startups, scanned the patient’s existing rib, and created a design ensuring an exact match in shape, flexibility and sturdiness. The 3D printed rib is a semi-rigid polyamide capable of withstanding the heat, ethylene oxide and radiation necessary for sanitization. The prosthesis was created using Fused Deposition Modeling, the same technology of Makerbots. The democratization of design and manufacturing might help provide prosthesis to developing countries.

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