{"id":90868,"date":"2016-07-06T02:31:28","date_gmt":"2016-07-06T02:31:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/cancer-survivor-and-vietnam-veteran-has-new-jaw-made-with-a-3d-printer\/"},"modified":"2016-07-06T02:31:28","modified_gmt":"2016-07-06T02:31:28","slug":"cancer-survivor-and-vietnam-veteran-has-new-jaw-made-with-a-3d-printer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/cancer-survivor-and-vietnam-veteran-has-new-jaw-made-with-a-3d-printer\/","title":{"rendered":"Cancer survivor and Vietnam veteran has new jaw made with a 3D PRINTER"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A cancer survivor and Vietnam veteran who lost half his face during radiation treatment has received a 3D-printed jaw.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Grandfather-of-three Shirley Anderson, 68, was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 1998.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">To combat the disease, doctors in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana, inserted a radium implant into his jaw.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Though his cancer disappeared, the implant also destroyed his facial tissue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-21e8cf26087b4a63\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/21\/35F3D0CD00000578-3674214-image-m-41_1467664436192.jpg\" height=\"408\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Life changer: Shirley Anderson, 68, has his new 3D-printed prosthesis attached to his face by his wife Della\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Life changer: Shirley Anderson, 68, has his new 3D-printed prosthesis attached to his face by his wife Della<\/p>\n<p>      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-7bc1dd4b969254ba\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/21\/35F3D08E00000578-3674214-image-m-42_1467664448978.jpg\" height=\"403\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Difficult journey: Shirley was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 1998 and radiation therapy destroyed his jaw\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Difficult journey: Shirley was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 1998 and radiation therapy destroyed his jaw<\/p>\n<p>      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-85dbdc90eacacb7f\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/21\/35F3D08600000578-3674214-image-m-43_1467664461871.jpg\" height=\"385\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Happy: The couple will have been married for 50 years this September. Shirley served in the Vietnam war\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Happy: The couple will have been married for 50 years this September. Shirley served in the Vietnam war<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Doctors then tried to rebuild the lost tissue using muscles removed from his chest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But the operation was unsuccessful &#8211; and left Shirley without a jaw and an Adam&#8217;s apple.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">For years Shirley, a retired mechanic, has worn surgical masks to cover up the shriveled bottom half of his face.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But in 2012, Dr Travis Bellicchi of the Indiana University School of Dentistry approached him with a groundbreaking idea: printing a prosthesis.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"rotator-panels link-bogr1 linkro-ccox\">\n<li>\n<p>          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/19\/35F33B2700000578-0-image-m-23_1467657924609.jpg\" alt=\"Jerry Cahill\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>Cystic fibrosis sufferer who was told he&#8217;d die at 16 beat&#8230;<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<p>          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/15\/35EEAA5F00000578-0-image-a-20_1467642652661.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>EXCLUSIVE: Boy who lost his nose after being treated by&#8230;<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Dr Bellicchi, an expert in maxillofacial prosthetics, had heard of Shirley&#8217;s case, and initially tried to develop an artificial jaw with methods he&#8217;d used before.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He spent hours casting Shirley&#8217;s face in clay, then sent it to an artist to hand paint. But they discovered the structure was too heavy and restrictive, and block Shirley from eating solid foods.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">It became evident early on that Shirley required something bigger and more lightweight than anything Dr Bellicchi had worked on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Instead, the team turned to the university&#8217;s media and sciences wing, and a student, Cade Jacobs, who specializes in 3D printing and design.<\/p>\n<p>      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-d4642990b6fe5c8c\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/21\/35F3D0A800000578-3674214-image-m-44_1467664473588.jpg\" height=\"373\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Dr Bellicchi, an expert in maxillofacial prosthetics, had heard of Shirley's case, and initially tried to develop an artificial jaw with methods he'd used before. But he found a clay structure was too heavy and restrictive\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Dr Bellicchi, an expert in maxillofacial prosthetics, had heard of Shirley&#8217;s case, and initially tried to develop an artificial jaw with methods he&#8217;d used before. But he found a clay structure was too heavy and restrictive<\/p>\n<p>      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-9da3b84bcb7a3e13\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/21\/35F3D0B000000578-3674214-image-m-45_1467664484920.jpg\" height=\"368\" width=\"634\" alt=\"The team turned to a media student who specializes in 3D printing and design to make a virtual impression\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The team turned to a media student who specializes in 3D printing and design to make a virtual impression<\/p>\n<p>      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-8abffefd2695a9a1\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/21\/35F3D0BA00000578-3674214-image-m-47_1467664515548.jpg\" height=\"352\" width=\"634\" alt=\"The digital piece was then printed and caste in silicone. It has 'feather-edge margins' so it sits comfortably\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The digital piece was then printed and caste in silicone. It has &#8216;feather-edge margins&#8217; so it sits comfortably<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Using a Formlabs stereolithographic 3D printer and a program called ZBrush, Jacobs created a virtual impression of Anderson&#8217;s face.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He then worked on the digital cast to accentuate minute details, such as pores and wrinkles on the lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Crucially, he tapered the edges so they have a feather-edge margin at the edge of the prosthesis where it meets Shirley&#8217;s face, meaning it will sit comfortably. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The team printed the mold using a Form 2 SLA 3D printer, then caste it in a lightweight, breathable silicone.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;It started off as a unique challenge and something very different that would be interesting to be a part of,&#8217; Jacobs explained in an interview with Formlabs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;And then it kind of morphed into helping people in a very unique way. Maxillofacial prosthedontics and the entertainment industry, they don&#8217;t really get together and talk to each about, you know, here&#8217;s how we can benefit each other. So why not? Why wouldn&#8217;t we be able to continue this trend?&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-8e078526facb8447\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/21\/35F3D0C500000578-3674214-image-m-48_1467664553241.jpg\" height=\"380\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Overjoyed: Shirley looked delighted as he put on the prosthesis after years of seeking help\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Overjoyed: Shirley looked delighted as he put on the prosthesis after years of seeking help<\/p>\n<p>      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-8a044c53f710992e\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/21\/35F3D1A200000578-3674214-image-a-38_1467664402939.jpg\" height=\"643\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Just the start: Shirley said he hopes this process will help others - and Dr Bellicchi is already making more\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Just the start: Shirley said he hopes this process will help others &#8211; and Dr Bellicchi is already making more<\/p>\n<p>      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-d1428d7c680da4\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2016\/07\/04\/21\/35F3D1AA00000578-3674214-image-a-40_1467664410435.jpg\" height=\"317\" width=\"634\" alt=\"This is the 3D printing team enlisted to help Dr Bellicchi design a highly detailed silicone prosthesis\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">This is the 3D printing team enlisted to help Dr Bellicchi design a highly detailed silicone prosthesis<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span>Shirley and his wife of 50 years Della, whom he married before serving in the navy in Vietnam, are overjoyed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span>Della spoke on behalf of Shirley in an interview with Formlabs, as Shirley wrote down prompts with a pen and a white board.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span>&#8216;It&#8217;s kind of been one bad things after another, it all stemmed from the radiation,&#8217; Della said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span>&#8216;What Shirley wants is to help other people,&#8217; she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span>&#8216;Ten years down the road who knows how fast they&#8217;re going to be able to make something like that.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span>Indeed, the team assembled to help Shirley has already produced prostheses for six other patients, including one who lost his ear in an industrial accident. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A cancer survivor and Vietnam veteran who lost half his face during radiation treatment has received a 3D-printed jaw. Grandfather-of-three Shirley Anderson, 68, was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 1998. To combat the disease, doctors in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana, inserted a radium implant into his jaw. Though his cancer disappeared, the implant also <a class=\"read-more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/cancer-survivor-and-vietnam-veteran-has-new-jaw-made-with-a-3d-printer\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90868","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90868"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90868\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}