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Though 3D printing is still a start-up technology, it has been used increasingly in medical care in recent years. For instance, saving infant's life.

A baby named Kaiba Gionfriddo had been diagnosed with severe tracheobronchomalacia, a rare respiratory condition that caused his airways to collapse, blocking the flow of air to his lungs daily. Little Kaiba's situation is very severe, even life-threatening. Many doctors told Kaiba's parents that maybe Kaiba wouldn't have the chance to leave the hospital alive.

Fortunately, the parents reached out to Dr. Glenn Green, an associate professor of pediatric otolaryngology at the University of Michigan and Dr. Scott Hollister, a professor of biomedical and mechanical engineering at the university. After diagnosing carefully, Dr. Glenn Green and his colleague Dr. Scott Hollister decided using 3D printing technology in surgery to save Kaiba's life.

First of all, doctors scanned Kaiba's airways with a CT. Then with the help of a polymer called polycaprolactone and a 3D printer, doctors designed an airway splint. The splint was similar to the hose of a vacuum cleaner in that it's strong enough not to collapse, while at the same time it's flexible enough to expand with growth. The splint is supposed to reabsorb into the boy's body over three years as his windpipe remodels and grows healthily.

When Kaiba's parents talked about this experience, both of them moved to tears. According to them, Kaiba is doing well after 15 months of the surgery. His lungs are now working just fine on his own. When they see the smile on Kaiba's face, it is the beginning of happiness for this lucky family.

As 3D printing technology is becoming more popular, all the people will be impressed by what 3D printers can accomplish, because this is definitely a wave of the future.