3D Printing to Improve Quality of Life for Differentially Abled in Africa

3D printing is a breakthrough technology that is set to revolutionize the global healthcare industry. One important application is the economic production of customised scaffolds or prosthetics (orthopaedic implants) to assist physically disabled people by substituting for lost or damaged bone. In one recent operation, approximately 75% of a patient's skull was replaced with a 3D printed implant made of polyetherketoneketone (PEKK): a biomedical polymer with high heat and chemical resistance, and strong load-bearing properties.