Girl could be fitted with 3D printed ear in Australia

The development of 3D Printing has already lead to some amazing advancements, and this one could change a young girls life for the better.

2 Year old Miya was born with only one functioning ear due to a congenital deformity.

Miya's hearing is currently assisted by a headband which transmits sound to her brain using her skull as a bone conductor.

New 3D printing technology being developed at Queensland Universty of technology in Australia could mean that Miya could receive a prosthetic ear that costs less than a pair of glasses.

The project will have 2 stages. The first will be a sort term cosmetic solution, but the second is a lot more ambitious, involving complex bio-engineering where a 3D ear is grown from the patients own cells using a special bio reactor.

Researches think the ear could be available with 2 years and will be significantly cheaper than current medical prosthetic due to 3D printing technology.