Pooch runs for first time on 3D printed prosthetics

Dog

New York: A disabled canine in the US has been successfully fitted with 3D printed prosthetics, allowing him to run down the street for the first time ever. Derby was born with a congenital deformity characterised by small forearms and no front paws.

Until now, he was only able to get around on soft surfaces. Hard surfaces, like sidewalks, caused severe abrasions on his front extremities. But, now, Derby is able to run alongside, and at times outrun, his new adoptive owners.

Representation pic/Thinkstock

Having fostered Derby through the dog rescue group Peace and Paws in Hillsborough, New Hamp-shire, Tara Anderson, an employee at South Carolina-based 3D Systems, decided to help the pooch. Using 3D technology, she knew it would be possible to rapidly design and produce prosthetics customised to Derby's morphology.

Derrick Campana, a certified orthotist at Animal Ortho Care in Chantilly, Virginia, and 3DS designers, Kevin Atkins and Dave DiPinto, used data of Derby's forelimbs to create the 3D design. The team utilised Geomagic Freeform, a digital sculpting platform, which allowed them to create perfect organic shapes and smooth curves for Derby.

Anderson and the designers built complete prosthetics with comfortable cups in rubber and rigid spokes and base. Ready in a few hours, the prosthetics were shipped to Derby for testing.