Our Seattle rapid prototyping company has reported on a lot of ways that 3D printing technology has revolutionized medicine to improve the lives of people across the globe. Of course, with the great versatility available with a 3D printer, mankind would be remiss if we did not share this great boon with our four-legged friends. This was the goal of 3D Systems and the Rita Leibinger Medical team, when they put their printers to work to give aging dogs a chance to feel young again.
The problem that this team decided to address was cruciate ligament damage. As dogs age, they tend to develop this condition in their legs, which slows them down and prevents them from romping about and playing like they used to. Past efforts to treat such damage have been slow and difficult. However, the team’s new TTA RAPID implant is making it easier to reinforce a dog’s weakened limb quickly. Over 10,000 dogs have already benefitted from this treatment, many of which were back on their feet within a six week recovery period.