在葡萄牙进行的案例研究使用了3D打印来帮助重建47岁女性的眼睛。在采用数字方法进行假体制造时，波尔图大学, and theInstitute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering设法产生高质量的假肢，同时减少了典型方法的时间和成本。
The traditional approach
这项研究的患者大约5年前遭受了面部损伤。当时，缺陷的复杂性使外科医生无法重建左眼。从那时起，替代品一直是便宜的，非射击的假体，在磨损时会引起不适，或者定制，合适的眼睛成本昂贵。
通常，自定义假体需要专家的干过程，并且由于需求而导致较长的等待清单。在美国，这项工作还花费了1,800美元至8,300美元的含义，取决于材料，饰面和合身。
The digital approach
在这项研究中，研究人员将3D扫描，CAD建模和立体光刻摄影整合到了该过程中。代替使用患者脸的CT扫描，使用GOM的ATOS III结构光3D扫描仪精确映射了形状。然后，此硬件中的点云数据在CAD中使用得很容易，因为文件大小不如CT图像中的文件大小。
With this model, a designer sculpts the appropriate eyelid and socket shape to house an artificial lens. This shape is then 3D printed in resin on a Viper S12 SLA system, and used as a mold to make silicone prototypes. In trying out the prototypes in the patient’s face, adjustments are made to achieve the perfect fit.
An acrylic lens matching the color of the patient’s right eye is then inserted into the silicone mold, producing a visually accurate prosthetic eye for the equivalent of $1092. Even in the lower end of the U.S. prosthetic market, the method shows a significant saving of over $700.
Improved quality of life and self-esteem
在研究的最后一句话中，作者指出，
The proposed methodology showed promising outcomes in terms of time and costs, allowing the achievement of prosthesis with a minimal level of discomfort, disclosing excellent aesthetic and functional results […]
In addition, the result“shows a high social impact as it contributes to an accurate and effective restoring of patient’s physiognomy and, at the same time, improve individual selfesteem and quality of life.”
用3D打印进行重建手术的可能性，总部位于英国的增材制造业和工程公司Renishaw开发了雷电竞充值its own software to aid in making facial implants。3D打印也被证明是创建更具成本效益的手臂和腿假体的优势，如启用社区基金会正在帮助海地的截肢者。
本文中的研究在2017年的第五届葡萄牙生物工程会议上发表。Full details of the study, including supporting methodology and findings are accessible online here。
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Featured image shows eye photo by Piotr Szczepankiewicz, piotr_szczepankiewicz on Flickr
