Thanks to 3D printing technology, Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis was able to play in last night’s Super Bowl.
Following a broken arm after the NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals in late January, Davis received a 3D printed arm brace made from a plastic and elastomer composite to protect his injured arm, that had to be fixed with a metal plate and 12 screws to hold the bones together.
The brace was designed by 3D Elite, a manufacturer of 3D printed braces and casts for athletes, and then 3D printed on a Stratasys Connex 3D printer by Whiteclouds 3D Printing. It was chosen by Davis over three other regular braces.
“Thomas Davis is already the ‘bionic man’ in our book,” said Scott Perone of 3D Elite. “This personalised 3D brace lined with Poron XRD makes him a bit more indestructible.” The flexible and soft material Poron XRD is designed to absorb shocks and protect the wearer from impacts.
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