[TheForge] 3D printing again

[terry l. ridder]

Hello

I saw this story on the BBC News iPad App and thought you should see it:

Injured turtle gets 3D printed jaw

A 3D-printed beak has been made for a sea turtle badly injured in a
collision with a boat's propeller.

Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32780674

<begin quote>
A 3D-printed beak has been fitted to a sea turtle injured by a collision
with a boat's propeller.

The beak, made of medical-grade titanium, replaces the loggerhead
turtle's jaws, half of which were sheared off in the accident.

Detailed scans of the injured creature's head were used to generate the
design of the prosthetic beak.

If the prosthetic is not rejected by the turtle, the animal will be
returned to the sea shortly.

The 45kg (99lb) creature was taken to the sea turtle Research, Rescue
and Rehabilitation centre at Pamukkale University in Denizli, Turkey
soon after being found badly injured at sea.

Initially staff at the centre nursed it back to health by feeding it by
hand but realised another solution was needed if the turtle was ever
going to be able to fend for itself.

The rehabilitation centre contacted Turkish company BTech Innovation,
known for custom-making medical prosthetics and implants for humans, to
see if it could help.

BTech used CT scans taken by vets to produce a design that fitted
perfectly to the injury site and restored the turtle's ability to feed.

The turtle, named Akut-3, is currently convalescing at the recovery
centre to ensure that it has adapted to its metal jaw.
<end   quote>

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>