With this new 3D-printed exoskeletal cast
idea, the incredibly fun and funky looking design provides a bit of
leeway when it comes to scratching that itch halfway down your arm
or balancing one leg outside of the shower so as not to get the cast
wet. Victoria University of Wellington Architecture and Design
school graduate Jake Evill recently developed this concept, called
Cortex.
The exoskeletal cast provides a strong fractured-bone support system
featuring lightweight protection that is ventilated, recyclable, and
shower friendly.
To produce the cast, the patient receives an X-Ray scan during which
the break is identified. That specific area is then 3D scanned and
the data is fed into the computer to generate a 3D-printed cast. The
final product has one open side that is eventually snapped closed
with strong fasteners.