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3-D Printed Pelvis Holding Up After 3 Years
An anonymous reader writes "Here's a neat story out of Britain, with good news about long-term success for the patient involved, and for others who might benefit from similar procedures: three years ago, surgeon Craig Gerrand successfully printed and implanted an artificial pelvis (actually, about half of one) into a patient suffering from a rare form of cancer. Other techniques were ruled out, because the patient would be losing so much bone. So, after careful scanning, additive printing with titanium was used to create the replacement: 'In order to create the 3-D printed pelvis, the surgeons took scans of the man's pelvis to take exact measurements of how much 3-D printed bone needed to be produced and passed it along to Stanmore Implants. The company used the scans to create a titanium 3-D replacement, by fusing layers of titanium together and then coating it with a mineral that would allow the remaining bone cells to attach.' Now, three years after the procedure, the printed pelvis is holding up just fine, and the patient is able to walk with a cane."
There is not much difference with respect to physical properties between printed and sintered metal or ceramics. Sintering is a very well established fabrication process combining endurance, flexibility in design and low weight. However, laser-powered, layered construction a.k.a printing allows for even greater flexibility and most importantly one-off fabrication. This is ideally suited to medical applications like this one. However do not expect to be able to do this at home anytime soon.
...is getting some hip new applications.
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Okay, everyone. Put down your pitchforks.
Personally, I would have opted for adamantium.
-- Knowledge shared is power lost. -- Aleister Crowley
Ex-cell-ent. Can he still get an MRI with his implant?
No you didn't.
Indeed, but you must remember, it's not the treatment itself that is so costly over here. It's all the tacked on state regulations and overhead associated with healthcare that drives up the cost.
The raw materials cost the same here as they do there. Same thing for the infrastructure, the buildings, the instruments, the mechanical, chemical and other associated support devices and manpower it takes to perform such an operation from end to end, etc. etc. etc. They all cost the same.
Look at it like this, how much is it to puschase a gallon of gas (petrol, I know) in England vs the US? It's roughly double isn't it?
How much does a gallon of gas cost in England vs the US? It's the same, roughly. That is gasoline (petrol) is made from oil, and we both pay for this oil on the open market, and it costs the same to us as it does to you. Ditto for manufacturing costs; it's the same basic process over here as it is there, hence the costs to make a gallon of gas (petrol) from that barrel of oil are, wait for it, the same.
So why do you lot pay 2X the cost to fill your cars up then? That's right, taxes, fees and and other costs coming from state regulation and market interference.
So we're pretty much both of us fooked then aren't we mate?
(...)
Look at this: New 3D Printer by MarkForged Can Print With Carbon Fiber Definitely more companies are going to develop products like these...
Imagine the possibilities it opens for elder and disabled people care. And with the current ageing of the population in developed countries, this will certainly be a huge industry.
Elvis?
A 3-d printed Elvis is exactly what I thought too!
No brain, no pain.
I know I'm feeding a troll, but that's a really great argument. Justifying the backbreaking expense of keeping oneself alive against the cost of fuel in two countries. I suppose if you consider the far more efficient vehicles, the vastly reduced amount of driving required, and the great public transport alternatives the argument kind of doesn't seem as brilliant. But I'm just splitting hairs I suppose.
Came in for a story on a 3D printed penis, left disappointed.
You have no idea what you're talking about.
An artificial hip joint, made in America, costs around $15000 at an American hospital, even though it only cost a few hundred dollars to make (in America).
That exact same joint, flown to Belgium and installed at a hospital in Belgium, costs less than USD$1000.
Are you going to try to tell me that Belgium doesn't have state regulations?
Europe has much more government than America, and far more regulation, yet healthcare there costs a fraction as much, even when they're using medical devices manufactured in America.
Explain that one.
As someone who has lived & travelled across much of the world, the UK's public transport infrastructure, especially within cities, ranks very highly.
Belgium has more regulation than America. Things cost much, much less. Hence, regulation is a GOOD thing.
Are you really that fucking stupid?
Stupid typical warmongering American. Fuck off and die with your shitty healthcare.
As someone who has lived & travelled across much of the world, the UK's public transport infrastructure, especially within cities, ranks very highly.
And, given how bad the UK's 'public transport' (i.e. mostly private companies subsidized by the taxpayer) is, that just shows how much it sucks everywhere else.
Isn't that the study that got debunked because it turmed out the bulk of the people rating astrology as scientific had misread it as "astronomy"?
If so, it might say more about Democrats' literacy than their their belief in astrology.
It would also be what is expected, given that the consituency of the Democratic party is heavily weighted toward groups of people who have been the victims of poor public schools.
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
Issue is really Regulators vs Lawyers.