Joy as twin boys joined at the stomach are successfully separated by surgeons using a 3D PRINTER

This piece of news was written by Kate Pickles for Mailonline, from the Daily Mail online newspaper, on the 7th March of 2016.

The news is about two conjoined twins from China that have been successfully separated thanks to a 3D printer. Their names are Yu Ce Yuan and Yu Ce Xiang, and their abdomens were conjoined at birth. After sending in accurate data from the babies medical and physical conditions to a 3d printing company, they could create replacements for the conjoined parts of the twins' bodies and, in that way, they ensured their survival.

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This, however, was possible after a 12-hour operation at Children's Hospital of Fudan University (Shanghai). The hospital had only faced nine cases of conjoined twins and, according to Dr. Zhen Shang, this was by far the most difficult one. Nevertheless, life would've been imposible or a nightmare for these children if they hadn't gone through the operation. The operation consisted in separating their liver and pelvic bone after reconstructing the cavities with the 3d printed pieces. Even though both babies are doing fine, doctors say they'll need futher operations.

The parents received help from donations from around the world thanks to Love Without Boundaries (a charity), that paid for the medical taxes and for the operation fee.

Yu Ce Yuan and Yu Ce Xiang before the operation

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After the operation

In my opinion this is great news. The applications of 3D printers amaze me. This is not the only medical advance that has been posible thanks to this kind of technology, but also many more. Also, I've seen some work in architecture using 3D printers! Although I think they should be a little bit controlled (can you create a gun that works? Better be careful with that), I believe that this invention is, and will keep being, something that will help us in a lot of different areas. Also, once again, this demonstrates that technology can make a better world, if we know how to use it.

VOCABULARY

conjoined twins: two babies born joined together at some point, such as the hips. Some have lived for many years without being surgically separated.

bladder: a hollow organ in the body that is shaped like a bag and may hold gases or liquids, esp. urine.

discharge: to release or send away.