7 3-D Printing Breakthroughs That Matter for Medtech

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5. Customized Exoskeletons, Prosthetics for the DisabledIn the past, a major challenge behind exoskeletons and prosthetics involved getting them to fit and be comfortable for individual patients. With 3-D printing, it is much easier to ensure such devices are custom made.Ekso Bionics (Richmond, CA), for example, announced the “first ever 3-D printed hybrid exoskeleton robotic suit,” which was created in collaboration with 3D Systems. The printed device was demonstrated at an event in Europe by Amanda Boxtel, whose body was scanned so that the exoskeleton could conform to the shape of her legs and back.CBS has aired a segment featuring a 12-year-old with a bright new prosthetic hand capable of grabbing and holding objects. The boy's father reached out to a mechanical-hand innovator named Ivan Owen, who had previously used 3-D printing to develop a custom prosthetic for a child.Related ArticleEkso Taking Wearable Technology to New Heights