At present, we can change even the sexuality of individuals with the aid of science and technology. As if through a magical transformation, everything has become possible to achieve in this digital era. Unfortunately we can use the same technology either to save human lives or to snatch hundreds of thousands lives.
For instance, the atomic bomb. However, the purpose of this article is not to pester your hearts by awakening those gloomy and miserable memories. There came exciting news about the 3D printing technology. It would be better to focus on the evolution of 3D printing technology.
Evolution
3D printing is the construction of a 3 dimensional object from a CAD model or a 3D model. One of the short story writers by the name of Murray Leinser first described the concept of 3-D printing technology in his short story titled ' Things Pass By.' Back in 1945, the same concept was described by another writer Raymond in his short story ' Tools of the trade.'
In 1980, Hideo Kodama wanted to develop a rapid prototyping system. Finally, he came up with a layer by layer approach for manufacturing, using a photosensitive resin which was polymerized by UV light. However, Kodama could not file the patent for his technology.
Later a trio of French Researchers created a system which cured liquid monomers into solid by using a laser. They failed to file a patent for their invention. Charles Hull filed the first patent for stereolithography. Hull developed a system for creating 3D models by curing photosensitivity resin layer by layer. In 1986, he submitted his patent application for his new technology and founded the 3D system corporation in 1988.
In 1988 Carl Deckard at the university of Texas filed a patent for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology. In 2006 the first commercially available SLS printer was released. The CAD tools which became more available enabled people to develop 3-D models on their computers. In 2008 the first prosthetic leg was printed. In 2009 the FDM patents filed in the 80's fell into the public domain.
Prosthetic eye
You may have watched the TV series ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’ in which an astronaut called Colonel Steve Austin is rebuilt with iron. However, at that time, we thought that the concept of an iron man would never be possible. But it is wrong to come to such a conclusion.
Steve Verze was the first person to receive a 3-D printed prosthetic eye. “I have needed a prosthetic eye since I was 20." Steve verze said. According to the Moor Fields Eye Hospital, 47-year-old Steve had to undergo a 2-hour session to get his eye socket moulded. Steve's left eye was completely 3-D printed. Surprisingly, this was the first time to create a fully digital prosthetic eye for a patient. This artificial eye is more realistic than any other alternatives.
The girl with a 3D printed ear
Radiyahi Miah who lives in Pembrokeshire was born without a properly formed left ear. Scientists at Swansea university understood that Radiya's own cartilage can be used to 3D bioprint a new ear for her. Scientists used cartilage cells from her nose to create a living ear.
She wanted to undergo the operation but it was delayed by the Covid -19 pandemic. As noted by researchers, those who were born without properly formed ears and noses want their own tissues to be used for the reconstruction of deformed parts. Surprisingly, it will be a good news for everyone.
