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[Nyx]

The woman after the operation:

And some more tidbits from a new article.

- He used 18 different drills during the operation.

- When the plastic skull was inserted, the skin of the woman's head was shrunken a bit because of the 23 hours that had past, so the doctor could not stitch it back together, he had to stretch the skin first by pulling it.

 

[SystemShock2]

23 hours? Jesus, I'd be falling asleep by the end of it.

 

[genericsuperhero]

In 2005 my wife had to have cranial reconstruction using titanium implants - the results were good, but I can't image now much better they would be if 3D printing and the medical advancements it brings was around back then.

 

[Fireblend]

I would've asked for the rest of my scalp not to be put back on, so I could go around walking with a transparent skull like an absolute badass. Such a missed opportunity.

 

[Pterion]

This is an interesting case (hyperostosis interna that is not only frontal, but affecting most of the cranial vault). They took 23 hours to do a cranioplasty that does not involve the skullbase, which is crazy when you think about it. The longest one I've been involved with lasted 3 hours at most, I believe. I know that doing the bone removal was the hard part due to concerns for dural/sinus tear, but 23 hours for that is frankly odd. Giant basilar aneurysm clipping take less than that, and that involves cardiac arrest, deep hypothermia and vessel reconstruction. Also, that plastic material isn't really what we typically use, as we prefer PMMA or titanium mesh (3d modeled too). Guess a calvarial split graft was out of the question... So basically, as a fellow neurosurgeon, I think this is nothing terribly special. Sorry Dutch GAF.

 

[Nyx]

This is an interesting case (hyperostosis interna that is not only frontal, but affecting most of the cranial vault). They took 23 hours to do a cranioplasty that does not involve the skullbase, which is crazy when you think about it. The longest one I've been involved with lasted 3 hours at most, I believe. I know that doing the bone removal was the hard part due to concerns for dural/sinus tear, but 23 hours for that is frankly odd. Giant basilar aneurysm clipping take less than that, and that involves cardiac arrest and hypothermia. Also, that plastic material isn't really what we typically use, as we prefer PMMA or titanium mesh (3d modeled too). Guess a calvarial split graft was out of the question... So basically, as a fellow neurosurgeon, I think this is nothing terribly special. Sorry Dutch GAF.

Well, at least the rest of the world thinks it is.

 

[WriterGK]

"America was 75% there first!"

That's still 25% short.
So we Dutchies are basically the first with it
Awesome news. The 3D Skull looks so tough and robust. Nothing like I imagined it to be.

 

[Plywood]

Always freaks me out how they roll back the skin.

 

[Luis_23]

This is insane!

 

[LogicStep]

Yes, absolutely. Its still not good for mass manufacturing, too expensive and slow. But it is absolutely amazing in two areas:

a.)when you need a low volume of a very specifically designed piece. This includes all of the 3D printed bones and stuff where you only need to make one of them because they're custom fit to the patient.

b.)When you're prototyping. As a product designer, 3D printers are a godsend. Being able to quickly and accurately get prototypes into hands for feedback and testing without having to cobble something together or wait for the factory to sample something two weeks later is goddamn revolutionary.

Fucking science, this is amazing.

 

[Bucket Mouse]

I would've asked for the rest of my scalp not to be put back on, so I could go around walking with a transparent skull like an absolute badass. Such a missed opportunity.

Don't mind me, my head is fucking see through.

 

[PuppetSlave]

It is really incredible but I got to admit it also gives me the ants under the skin feeling just imagining the operation. Much less watching the video.

 

[titusandronicus]

i can't wait for the first 3d printed human

 

[The Technomancer]

i can't wait for the first 3d printed human

You mean the first humans?

No seriously, we are a product of a dense sequence of information providing instructions on how to assemble a three dimensional object from a set of fundamentally simple and granular materials. We are 3D printed.

 

[thesoapster]

Holy shit that is incredible.

 

[Honey Bunny]

I would've asked for the rest of my scalp not to be put back on, so I could go around walking with a transparent skull like an absolute badass. Such a missed opportunity.

I suck at starting conversations so it would be a real help forme

 

[Kitschkraft]

Very humbling to see that operation.

Obviously, we are all just flesh and bone, organs and veins, etc....but damn does that put it into a better perspective.

The technology is amazing, hope I live long enough to see a better new world.

 

[Epsilon-delta]

can't wait til they start printing organs using our own cells so we can do transplants without needing immunosuppressants.

The second we can do that, everything will change in many ways. 3D printed organs combined with nanotechnology will offer life extension. This in turn will have significant societal and economic implications if life expectancy of 120+ years becomes the norm.

 

[Blargonaut]

Successful operation and full recovery, nice. That part where they show her

Spoiler

exposed brain and removed skullcap

near the end of that video was scary hardcore.

I heard metal in my head during that part... *shudder*

Medical science and engineering, you cray.

 

[-PXG-]

SCIENCE

 

[Rodney McKay]

First thing that popped into my head was Leeloo Dallas's creation scene in the Fifth Element, where the machine is printing her skull!

This is pretty cool too I guess.

 

[Kinyou]

Wow, her skull was really thick. Might have been great for boxing.

But good to hear that she's recovering.

 

[Hobbestetrician]

You mean the first humans?

No seriously, we are a product of a dense sequence of information providing instructions on how to assemble a three dimensional object from a set of fundamentally simple and granular materials. We are 3D printed.

You callin' my momma a printer, bruh?

 

[Ferrio]

I would've asked for the rest of my scalp not to be put back on, so I could go around walking with a transparent skull like an absolute badass. Such a missed opportunity.

God that'd be creepy as shit......

Halloween would be fun though.

 

[GungHo]

The woman after the operation:

And some more tidbits from a new article.

- He used 18 different drills during the operation.

- When the plastic skull was inserted, the skin of the woman's head was shrunken a bit because of the 23 hours that had past, so the doctor could not stitch it back together, he had to stretch the skin first by pulling it.

That's remarkable. I'm actually excited for the ramifications this could have for people who receive traumatic head injuries. They won't have to worry about being seen as monsters.

 

[Ahasverus]

Gentlemen, this is the future.

 

[dark10x]

Holy crap, that is incredible. The technology is amazing as are the skills of those doctors responsible.

 

[DarkKyo]

To be honest the human body is pretty tough in terms of what it can survive, so a lot of this medical achievement should be chalked up to how crazy resilient bodies are... That being said, this is pretty amazing and a huge advancement. Really feels like we are entering an era in which medical technology is going to see a lot of major milestones.

 

[Kaako]

Holy shit, that was pretty amazing. Science!

 

[-COOLIO-]

So is 3D printing basically a new industrial/medical/everything revolution?

it's a revolution alright.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

Gentlemen, this is the future.

It sounds like it is the present.

 

[No Love]

Fucking mindblowing.

 

[Raiden]

That is actually a badass looking skull.

Next up, Wolverine steelclaw implants!

 

[RagnarokX]

I think that is the entire skull in medical terms?

According to Wikipedia, the skull is usually divided into the cranium (the face and brain case) and the mandible (the jaw bone). In humans they divide the skull into the neurocranium (the dome that protects the brain) and the viscerocranium (the face and mandible). So to be technical this is the first complete neurocranium transplant

 

[Monocle]

It blows my mind that doctors can already use 3D printing for such extreme medical procedures. The future has arrived.

 

[Madness]

3D printing will revolutionize a lot of things, especially once they enter mainstream homes. Of course the dangers have been shown, printing 3D guns, the fumes/toxins, etc.

But for the first time, the power of production will be in the hands of ordinary citizens. Who knows what people can achieve, this story is just one example.

 

[NinjaFridge]

It sounds like it is the present.

The present is the pasts future.

 

[BobTheFork]

Shit, we need to get into the designer bone trade as soon as possible. You know someone is going to get a new femur with Louis Vuitton all over it

 

[Jackben]

The present is the pasts future.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.

 

[Reeks]

can't wait til they start printing organs using our own cells so we can do transplants without needing immunosuppressants.

word.

 

[Hollycat]

Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.


So can they build me a new body?

I volunteer for tribute.

 

[Christberg]

Really amazing stuff!

 

[Drazgul]

Next up, Wolverine steelclaw implants!

Without the healing factor, those suckers would just cause infections on your knuckles before you knew it.


I'd actually want a printed copy of my own skull for my desk. Talk about a conversation piece - you could say you used to be a twin. Used to be.

 

[NinjaFridge]

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.

'Like this if you love God and arent afraid to admit it'

 

[Nyx]

According to Wikipedia, the skull is usually divided into the cranium (the face and brain case) and the mandible (the jaw bone). In humans they divide the skull into the neurocranium (the dome that protects the brain) and the viscerocranium (the face and mandible). So to be technical this is the first complete neurocranium transplant

Thanks for that!

 

[Spinluck]

so is 3d printing witchcraft? or is there an actual science behind it?

 

[NinjaFridge]

so is 3d printing witchcraft? or is there an actual science behind it?

Thousands of really thin layers stacked on top of each other to make something.

 

[EarsOfASnake]

To be honest the human body is pretty tough in terms of what it can survive, so a lot of this medical achievement should be chalked up to how crazy resilient bodies are... That being said, this is pretty amazing and a huge advancement. Really feels like we are entering an era in which medical technology is going to see a lot of major milestones.

This it true, the human body is bananas. That being said, it's great how normal this all seems to be. You know, cutting off the top of a human skull because it has grown incorrectly, then replacing it with a manufactured one that fits, in the space of a day. It's almost to the point of being trivial.

 

[Palmer_v1]

This it true, the human body is bananas. That being said, it's great how normal this all seems to be. You know, cutting off the top of a human skull because it has grown incorrectly, then replacing it with a manufactured one that fits, in the space of a day. It's almost to the point of being trivial.

Complicated for you, maybe. For him? It was just Tuesday.

 

[Slayer-33]

So my once injured finger /knuckle can be fixed? Print me a new one please.