Artificial Windpipes Produced By 3D Printer Saves Three Children

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Three baby boys are alive today thanks to 3D printing technology.

The children suffered from a life-threatening medical condition called tracheobronchomalacia (TBM), a condition that collapses the windpipe that could lead to suffocation. These three kids were considered to be "the first in the world to benefit from the groundbreaking 3D-printed devices," according to the researchers from the University of Michigan. The devices were made of material that changes shape over time so it would keep up with the children as they grew, according to BBC.

The TBM condition has no cure and affects 1 in 2,000 babies. The research was published in Medical News Today and before the 3D printed devices came to be, earlier treatment for the condition involved mechanical ventilation. This means that infants undergo tracheostomy to insert a tube for them to breathe. In some cases, complications could occur and lead to cardiac and respiratory arrest.

So far, no complications were to be found for the three children who are using the stents. Kaiba Gionfriddo was only three months old when he first used the technology three years ago. The 3D-printed devices were also used by Ian, 5-months old and Garrett, 16-months old.

"Before this procedure, babies with severe tracheobronchomalacia had little chance of surviving," Dr. Glen Green of University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children Hospital said in a statement.

"Today, our first patient Kaiba is an active, healthy 3-year-old in preschool with a bright future. The device worked better than we could have ever imagined.

"We have been able to successfully replicate this procedure and have been watching patients closely to see whether the device is doing what it was intended to do.

"We found that this treatment continues to prove to be a promising option for children facing this life-threatening condition that has no cure."

Garrett Peterson spent the earliest months of his life breathing through a ventilator and got his nutrition through parenteral feeding, CBS News reports. After receiving the technology at 16 months old, he is able to breathe properly and showed no signs of complications. Ian Orbich's heart stopped due to his severe condition, but after receiving the implant at 5 months, he is doing better at 17 months old.

Although the three cases proved to be successful, it may take a while before it becomes a widespread practice for infants with TBM. "The potential of 3D-printed medical devices to improve outcomes for patients is clear, but we need more data to implement this procedure in medical practice," Green said. Possible complications may not yet be showing so further research needs to be done.