In a groundbreaking procedure, US researchers used a 3D printer to create a custom, life-saving implant for a baby boy, according to a Live Science report.
At just six weeks old, Kaiba Gionfriddo came down with a life-threatening disorder that left him constantly gasping for air.
The rare condition, called tracheo broncho malacia, occurs when the windpipe is so fragile, it collapses, bulging inwards and prevents air from flowing into the lungs.
Researchers at the University of Michigan used 3D printers to create a device out of a material called polycaprolactone, designed to dissolve in three year's time once the baby has grown.
The splint was made to fit precisely around the baby's airway, hold it open and allow him to breathe.
Three weeks after the procedure, the now 20-month-old no longer needs a ventilator to help him breathe. The case represented the first time 3D printing was used in the creation of a medical device that saved someone's life, according to Live Science.
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