The uses of 3D printing in veterinary care
The brilliance of 3D printing technology can easily be applied to help our friends in the animal world, and can allow us to do more for them than standard veterinary care alone. There are many cases of animals being helped through 3D printing technology. Below we will explore some of these stories and demonstrate how 3D printing technology has advanced the world of animal care.
Cyrano the cat
When he was nine years old, Cyrano the Cat was diagnosed with bone cancer in his knee. His owners were told that an amputation would not be possible, so they turned to North Carolina State University. With the help of Materialise’s Mimics Innovation Suite, the university designed Cyrano a 3D printed knee implant.
The technology allowed the team to create small parts, designed to specific specifications, that were ideal for his small frame. The accuracy of the design would not have been possible using traditional methods. Thanks to 3D printing, Cyrano got to experience a knee implant, similar in complexity to human knee implants, that allowed him to walk, run, and jump again.
TurboRoo the chihuahua
TurboRoo the Chihuahua was born without his two front legs, and couldn’t enjoy the freedom to play and run around like other young puppies. The dog was adopted by Ashley Looper, a veterinary tech, who sought help in aiding TurboRoo to walk. Sadly, traditional construction methods failed to help TurboRoo.
Luckily, Mark Deadrick, the owner of 3dyn - a company which specialize in 3D printing technology, offered to use 3D technology to print TurboRoo a mobility cart. The cart worked perfectly, helping TurboRoo to become mobile. The design was so successful that it led to the founding of TurboRoo Designs, a small company which designs and builds 3D printed mobility carts for disabled dogs.
Buttercup the duck
Buttercup the duck was born with a backwards foot that caused him much difficulty and pain when he walked. Conventional methods failed to help Buttercup, so his owners turned to 3D printing technology. 3D printing provided Buttercup with a new foot, crafted for him using a printed mold, designed using a scan from the foot of his sister. The mold was crafted by the 3D printing company Novacopy, who also went on to design him a foot with flappers to allow him to swim.
Holly the horse
Holly the horse developed laminitis, a painful, potentially crippling inflammation of the tissues that connect the hoof to the foot bone.
John Barnes, director of high-performance metal technology at CSIRO, printed her a silver titanium horseshoe with the aid of 3D printing technology. The horseshoe allowed her to move comfortably, and also gave her the opportunity to heal.
John Barnes claimed that 3D printing technology allowed the company to aid Holly in a way that would be inconceivable using traditional veterinary methods: "Many attempts have been made in the past to cure laminitis but it’s the 3D scanning and design part of this process that is so exciting to us. We know that 3D printing has the potential to create so many advanced biomedical products, but rehabilitation of horses has been a completely new area of work for CSIRO.”
Enhancing veterinary care
From knee replacements to horseshoes, 3D printing has helped advance the veterinary field - allowing us to help our animal friends in new and creative ways.
[Photo by condesign]
