14 DAY TRIAL // Most people are likely to have thrown out relevant e-mails with the spam at least once, by accident or otherwise. Flyers received in the physical mailbox often suffer the same fate, but sometimes it pays to read through them. A family from Clearfield, Utah are evidence of that.
Young Tai is a four-year-old boy that suffers from partial deafness. Due to being born without an ear canal on his right side, he cannot hear on that side.
The ear itself is very small, “microtic” being the technical term. As you might expect, his parents were not exactly hopeful of his chances to make it through kindergarten without being bullied, or at least feeling awkward.
Fortunately for Tarra and Ismael Medina, they got a flyer in the mail that put them in contact with a specialist who could help solve that issue by means of 3D printing.
The 3D printed prosthetic ear
First off, let us say that this is not a case of a 3D printed object solving all problems. The ear is a purely aesthetic add-on, not something that restored Tai's hearing. That task went to the bone-conducting hearing aid.
However, it is a very realistic ear, which should barely raise any alarms. Or at least make his condition seem “cool” to his peers instead of weird, freaky or whatever kids like to call things these days.
The specialist is Paul Tanner, an anaplastologist working at Prosthetics Department of the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.
His solution was the only one that did not rely on having Tai's microtic ear surgically removed. He used a CT scan then flipped it in order to produce an accurate model of the foundation.
A 3D printed piece from Marriott Library was taken and used to make a silicone mold, which was then painted in Tai's skin color. All in all, it is a perfect replica of the other ear, save for the ear.
The prosthetic ear will need to be replaced every two years as the boy grows, but that will be easy with 3D printing.
The price
The ear cost the Medina family $1,400 / €1,223, though without their health insurance it would probably have been a lot more. As Tai grows up, Tanner should be able to refine the technique and make it cheaper, so that other people may benefit as well.
