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Wounded Turtle Gets Titanium 3D-Printed Jaw

Btech Innovation's digital fabrication technologies have saved this animal's life

By Rain Noe - May 21, 2015

in Digital Fabrication

Testing technologies on animals is often a cruel affair. But in this case Btech Innovation, a Turkish digital fabrication company, has saved an animal's life by performing an unheralded feat: Giving it a 3D-printed titanium jaw.

The animal in question is a sea turtle that had been mauled by a boat propellor. The unfortunate collision left the sea creature with a shattered jaw, leaving it unable to eat. Rescuers brought the turtle to Turkey's Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation center at Pamukkale University, where Btech scanned and modeled the animal's skull to design replacement parts:

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After the parts were printed in titanium, the poor little guy went under the knife:

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Here's the turtle, post-op:

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The turtle's not out of the woods yet, as researchers must monitor him to ensure his body doesn't reject the prosthetic. But if it takes, he'll be released back into the ocean.

Here's a news video—Turkish language only—showing the turtle with his new jaw:

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Chris Burns

9 years ago

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How are they 3D printing Titanium?

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- Rain Noe
  
  Chris Burns
  
  9 years ago
  
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  DMLS, I'd imagine
  
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Rodrigo Lauret

9 years ago

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I swear i read "Turtlish language only" lol

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