A group of veterinarians working out of Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut teamed up with the locally located Mystic Middle School to develop an innovative 3D-printed prosthetic that they then used to outfit a disabled African penguin.
Purps the penguin suffered an injury that affected her ability to waddle around as penguins do. In order to forge a permanent solution, the veterinarians worked with Mystic Middle School to use a 3D scanner to scan a cast of the penguin's foot, using that to create a design for the orthotic that was then carefully and quickly attached to the penguin's limb.
The end result is a custom-made 3D-printed prosthetic that is again allowing Purps the penguin to move around unhindered, and is the latest example of the utility of 3D-printed prosthetics to aid disabled animals.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- 3d-printed Prosthetics
- The development of 3D-printed prosthetics for animals offers new ways to aid disabled animals and improve their quality of life.
- Collaborative Innovation
- The collaboration between veterinarians and schools demonstrates the potential for cross-industry partnerships to drive innovation in the field of animal prosthetics.
- Adaptive Design
- The use of a custom-made 3D-printed prosthetic highlights the importance of adaptive design in creating solutions for differently-abled animals.
Where This Applies
- Veterinary Services
- The veterinary services industry can explore the use of 3D-printed prosthetics as a viable treatment option for disabled animals in their care.
- Education
- Educational institutions can play a role in developing innovative solutions for animal disabilities by partnering with professionals in the veterinary field.
- 3D Printing
- The 3D printing industry can expand its market by targeting the development of prosthetics for animals, tapping into a new niche market with great potential.
