3D printed ear technology raising hopes of 2-year old girl

Two year old Maia was born with only one ear due to a congenital deformity called Microtia and currently wears a headband that transmits sound to her brain, using her skull as a bone conductor.

But new 3D technology being developed at Queensland University of Technology in Australia means Maia could soon receive a prosthetic ear that would cost less than a pair of glasses.

“She’s full of confidence. She’s full of love and life and I don’t want to take that away from her. It’s obviously going to be heartbreaking but the fact we can actually say no it’s okay, you will have an ear,” said Chloe Mulligan, Mother of Maia.

This promising technology is far less expensive than common prosthetic solutions. If successful, the whole procedure could cost as little as two hundred dollars per child. The hope is to eventually use this groundbreaking technology to print other parts of the body.

Learn about the first #3D printed ear #prosthetic by QUT to be fitted for a 2yrs girl#science #3dprintinghttps://t.co/nmks3PjBo3

— Moize Laanait (MoizeLaanait) May 8, 2016

Associate Professor Mia Woodruff, Queensland University of Technology:
“Nobody’s ever 3D printed ear prosthetics before. I think the ability to 3D print an ear prosthetic will cost the public less than a pair of glasses,” said Mia Woodruff, Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology.

The project comes in two stages. The first is a short-term ‘cosmetic’ solution: a 3D prosthetic ear is made in medical silicone and attached magnetically or with surgical glue.

The long-term stage is far more ambitious and revolves around a complex bioengineering solution. The goal is to develop a procedure for growing a 3D ear from the patient’s own cells using a special bioreactor.

After a few weeks of growing, it could then be surgically implanted along with a custom bionic construction.
Researchers believe that the “3D printed ears”
“3D printed ears“could be available within two years.

Though the project is still in its infancy, Maia’s parents are hoping it could deeply change their daughter’s life.