Oxford Performance Materials built a skull implant, like this one, for a U.S. man. The implant was placed surgically this week, replacing 75% of his skull. (Oxford Performance Materials)
Posted on 03/08/2013 6:31:06 PM PST by null and void

Oxford Performance Materials built a skull implant, like this one, for a U.S. man. The implant was placed surgically this week, replacing 75% of his skull. (Oxford Performance Materials)
Some are fascinated with 3-D printing. One man can't get it out of his head.
An unidentified man had 75% of his skull replaced with a 3-D printed implant made by Oxford Performance Materials, a Connecticut company. The surgery this week was the first time a patient received an implant made specifically for him using 3-D printing technology.
The operation marks a big step in the advancement of 3-D printing technology, the company said. With 3-D printers, users can produce objects with a molding machine based on computer digital models.
The 3-D printing technology is ideal for implants custom-shaped to each patient's anatomy, the company said.
OPM President and Chief Executive Scott Defelice said 3-D printing allows any type of bone to be replaced with an implant. The technology can shorten surgery time, be less risky and cost less, he said.
"We believe our technology is highly disruptive, and it'll widely affect the orthopedic industry," he said.
The type of implant, which is formally known as the OsteoFab Patient Specific Cranial Device, is made out of PEKK, an ultra-high-performance polymer, according to the company's website.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved OPM's technology last month, clearing the way for the surgery.
OPM said it can make an implant within two weeks of getting a patient's scans, and believes that as many as 500 people per month could make use of the implants in the U.S. alone.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
3-D Printer ping
I picked this name years ago... ahead of my time? LOL
It won’t be long before they are implanting AR-15 clips and receivers in people’s skulls.
I was kind of hoping it read...
President has 75 percent of brain replaced by
3-D printing.
Maybe I can go out with Salma Hayek after all! ;^)
Indeed!
Some day your prints will come...
Oh, good one! lol
Im thinking they meant 25%.
You are assuming this p-resident has a brain..
excellent
Dunno. The image is certainly closer to 25%, but it's also the generic demo image from their web site.
They don't have the press release for this case on their site yet, so all I have so far is the LAT's word on it.
75%? What kind of horrific accident caused that, yet didn’t kill the guy?
Gives me the creeps. At least they could do something about it.
I wondered about that. My guess is that the portion of the cranium to be replaced was intact until the implant was ready.
thank you...
He should have gotten one with a 30 round capacity magazine built in.
PING
I heard a piece about 10 years ago on a system McGill U. was developing to 3d-image the functional ends of a shattered bone, and using dental materials, fashion a near while-the-surgical-team waits solution to custom fit a mesh-like piece for the bone ends to grow back together on.
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