Thursday March 28th, 2024
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3D Cast: an end to Broken Bones

Finally, someone is using 3D printing for good.

Staff Writer

Scientists have invented a 3D printed cast which could almost cut bone healing time in half. The black cast, known as the Osteoid, uses an ultrasound system which makes bones heal up to 40% quicker. Turkish industrial designer Deniz Karasahin says that the Osteoid will "improve the overall healing experience for broken or fractured limbs by focusing on the patient’s comfort and the amount of time needed for the body to heal itself."

Experts even claim that the cast won't smell or itch thanks to a flurry of ventilation holes. The news will come as relief to many Egyptian who often spend months waiting for injuries to heal. Meanwhile, the creators also claim that it could provide help for long term sufferers by increasing the recovery rate by up to 80% in these cases.Each 3D cast will need to be customised individually using a 3D body scanner. 

Experts claim that the technology used in the cast has been used to speed up the healing of both tibia fractures and wrist fractures. Bone expert Dr. Michael Hausman was among the first the back the technology. He said: "We know that ultrasound works. There is good evidence, presented most recently in two papers published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, the leading journal in orthopaedics."

However, it is not yet clear whether it speeds up the mending of broken hearts.