3D Printed Artificial Ears offer hope to children born with a congenital deformity called Microtia
Microtia/Anotia is a deformity of the external canal and middle ear which is not fully developed. It affects thousands of children born every year.
Reconstructive surgery may help.
Video is courtesy of the DrGriffiths YouTube Channel
A new approach it to apply the technology of 3D Printing, to literally “print” a replacement ear made up of living cells. The cells then grow actual cartilage.
The 3D Printed ear is based on a digitized 3-D image of a human ear. The end result functions just like a human ear. The whole process from digitizing to having a 3D printed ear ready for implant, takes less than one week.
Best results are achieved with children around 5 years of age.
Click on this following link to view the PLOS ONE Research Article titled:
Click on the following link to read the Cornell Chronicle article titled:
Bioengineers, physicians 3-D print ears that look, act real
Posted by: Vincent Banial
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