75 Per Cent of Man's Skull Replaced by Implant Created by 3D Printer (PHOTOS)

Earlier this week, an unnamed man living in United States had 75 per cent of his skull replaced by an implant that was created by 3D printer.

The implant parts were made at Oxford Performance Materials, a Connecticut-based biomedical company . The company has received FDA approval for its printed implants. It is called OsteoFab Patient Specific Cranial Device. Yet, it is only just given permission for the implants to be used in operations in America at this time. The device is manufactured from PEKK, an ultra high performance polymer used in biomedical implants and other highly demanding applications.

The skull was scanned digitally using a 3D scanner and a digital replica of the skull replacement was made. A replacement prosthetic plate for his skull was then printed out using a 3D printer.

According to Gizmodo, the polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) plate has specifically made for surface details consisting of textures and holes that facilitate the growth of cells and bone. The custom made implants can be produced for a patient within two weeks.

The new technology could be utilized to replace cancerous bone in the skull, car accident victims and people with head injury.

"We see no part of the orthopedic industry being untouched by this," company president Scott DeFelice said.

"We will now move systematically throughout the body in an effort to deliver improved outcomes at lower overall cost to the patient and healthcare provider", Scott DeFelice added.

The company estimates approximately 6,000 people in the US can benefit from the new technology every year.