Doctors rescue boys by propping open their airways using stents made via 3-D printing.
The stents are customized to match the length, diameter, and thickness of the child’s airway. The plastic material slowly dissolves over about three years, and as it breaks down becomes less stiff, allowing the airway additional room to grow. Green says the plastic stent costs only about $10 in materials to produce.
According to the doctors, the implants were each designed and produced in less than five days.
See the full story here: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/537166/a-3-d-printed-implant-saves-lives/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_source=newsletter-daily-all&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20150501