Maybe you’ve heard of 3-D printing being used for prosthetics, car parts, shoes, or even food. Yes, you can make a three-dimensional chocolate masterpiece using a 3-D printer! Now, these printers are being used to make casts that custom-fit the patient. Made of a waterproof polymer material, its open lattice design allows much more air circulation than the traditional plaster or fiberglass casts. Hygiene, skin health, and comfort are all improved by this design. At a Mayo Clinic in Florida, the injured site is scanned by the printer and a cast is made from the digitalized image in about 90 minutes, which is a longer process than the widely used fiberglass casts. Currently, they are only seen at major hospitals that can afford the very expensive technology that involves a scanner, design software, and a printer. It is emerging technology with many applications in healthcare, and these casts will hopefully become more widely available in the near future.
Mayo Clinic Minute: 3D-printed cast makes for a more hygienic recovery – Mayo Clinic News Network
