Infant (Photo : Reuters)
In what is being termed as groundbreaking, scientist successfully implanted 3D printed devices in three babies to save their lives.
The babies were suffering from a condition that was preventing them from breathing naturally. The condition is termed as tracheobronchomalacia. It is considered to be life threatening and terminal in nature.
Previously, life expectancy was almost close to nil according to researchers as this condition causes a breakdown on the trachea or the windpipe. This leaves patients unable to breathe in a natural form and they need to be put on ventilators to aid artificial breathing.
The CS Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan is successful in perfecting the operation and they saved the lives of three baby boys. Needless to say, the hospital is being lauded for their innovation from across the world for the surgery and making a significant advance in the field of medical sciences and surgeries.
The surgeons successfully placed the 3D Printed Devices in the infants' windpipes that keeps them open and aids normal breathing. Glen Green from the CS Mott Children's Hospital says that this is indeed groundbreaking as the procedure was never done before. He said that patients suffering from this condition are now successfully cured of their ailment due to surgery, according to Examiner.
Green also says that this represents a significant step in the field of medical sciences as people diagnosed with this condition had little or no chances of survival and now can be completely cured from their ailment, according to CBS News.
The first patient is preschooler Kaiba, who is just three years old and is otherwise healthy apart from this medical condition. Green says that this success story can be replicated to improve and help thousands of others like Kaiba to lead a normal and successful life.
