While the rest of us are still looking at a future where we can print our own custom coffee mugs, some folks are already busy printing replacement body parts to save newborns from serious congenital conditions. Garrett Peterson was born with Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve, a condition that leads to severe pulmonary regurgitation and dilation of pulmonary arteries. In Garrett’s case, he had airway collapse and was having trouble breathing even on a ventilator.
Garrett was saved thanks to a 3D printed tracheal splint made of polycaprolactone, a biodegradable polyester, that was created specifically for his unique anatomy. CT scans of his trachea and bronchi were imported into a 3D modeling application from where a new splint was developed before final printing. Here’s video with the family and surgeons talking about the lifesaving procedure:
Here’s more about the 3D printing system used to create the tracheal splint:
More from U of Michigan Health System: Baby’s life saved after 3D printed devices were implanted at U-M to restore his breathing…