You can print some remarkable things with 3D printers, and while the tech isn’t as new as it used to be, we consistently hear about all sorts of cool new uses and concepts. Such is the case with the Osteoid Cast, a 3D printed cast that’s aims to make those itchy old plaster casts a thing of the past.
Photo: Deniz Karasahin
The Osteoid Cast comes from the mind of Deniz Karasahin, and it’s designed to speed up the healing process through the use of low-intensity ultrasound. Ultrasound treatment has been proven to decrease the healing time in broken bones up to 40%, but as you can imagine, it’s not easy to pull off through an old-school plaster cast.
This is where 3D printing comes into play as is “open” and allows spaces for diodes to connect. It also has the additional advantage of looking like something out of a sci-fi movie while allowing your broken appendage to air out – no more stinky casts.
Needless to say, tricky itches would also be a thing of the past as there are plenty of spaces that will allow you to scratch.
The Osteoid Cast isn’t the first 3D cast to hit the web, but it is the first one to work ultrasound into the mix which won it the 2014 Golden A’Design Award in the 3D-printed forms and products category. Unfortunately, as with most cool concepts, the Osteoid Cast isn’t ready for prime time and is just a design concept at this point. That said, between the Osteoid Cast and Cortex Cast, it should only be a matter of time before we see folks walking around the streets in designer 3D printed casts.
Via – The Verge
