So far, 3D printing has been used for fast and cheap production, online customizable toys and jewelry, and much more cool stuff. It is also being used for researching replaceable organs and other medical replacements, which, given time, will save lives. But, it hasn’t saved a life yet. Until now.

A Model Of Kabai’s Trachea And The Split

Kaiba Gionfriddo, a child who was born with tracheobronchomalacia, had his life saved by 3D printing. Tracheobronchomalacia is a disease that weakens your Trachea. When Kaiba was born, the doctors thought he was a goner. At the last minute, though, researchers at the University Of Michigan had a last minute brainwave. They designed a splint especially for Kaiba that would stabilize the trachea and allow it to grow around it. This had to be made relatively quick, of course, and they didn’t have time to have it specially hand-carved by a trachea expert. The only option was 3D printing. So, they printed it off, and surgically implanted it into Kaiba’s trachea. It was successful.

Kabai Gionfriddo

Not only was Kabai saved, he was also mended. The splint help fix the trachea, then (this is ingenious) it just dissolved. When the researchers at Michigan printed the splint, they printed it using a biomaterial. That way, it all went smoothly and he didn’t have to undergo another surgery. And, when he got to go off ventilator support, he was fine. He hasn’t needed it since. This is a great discovery, and hopefully it can be recognized and used on other tracheobronchomalacia patients, and help save more lives.