Although the 3D printing world is dominated by decor items, the Animal Care Center Ipiranga in São Paulo helped to give a macaw a second chance at a normal life. Through the work of the Center, facial reconstruction specialist Cicero Moraes and veterinary dentist Paul Miamoto, Gigi the macaw received a 3D-printed titanium beak implant.
The intricate process was carried out in order to repair the bird's beak and offer a trusted way to help enhance the life of the bird. Titanium was chosen for the lightweight, rustproof durability it offers and was printed to exact specifications before being implanted on the bird.
With 3D-printed prosthetics being close to implementation in the human healthcare field, this procedure to repair the beak of a macaw shows how powerful the technology is becoming.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- 3d-printed Prosthetics
- The use of 3D-printed prosthetics in the healthcare industry is becoming more prevalent with the potential to disrupt traditional prosthetic methods.
- Animal Prosthetics
- The use of 3D-printed animal prosthetics can improve the quality of life for animals with disabilities or injuries, presenting an opportunity for animal care and veterinary industries.
- 3D Printing for Biomedical Applications
- The use of 3D printing for biomedical applications continues to expand, with the potential to disrupt traditional medical device manufacturing and personalized medicine industries.
Where This Applies
- Healthcare
- The healthcare industry can benefit from the use of 3D printing technology for personalized prosthetics and medical devices.
- Veterinary
- The veterinary industry can leverage 3D printing technology to improve the quality of life for animals with injuries or disabilities by creating custom prosthetics.
- Manufacturing
- The manufacturing industry, particularly in biomedical applications, can utilize 3D printing technology to create complex and customized products with lower cost and faster turnaround times.
