Innovative 3D-Printed Devices from Georgia Tech Transform Lives of Children with Rare Airway Defect

child in hospitalPhoto byNational Cancer InstituteonUnsplash

Children suffering from a rare birth defect are finding relief thanks to a groundbreaking device developed at Georgia Tech. The innovative airway support devices, created using 3D printing technology, are now being used at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, with one young patient, Justice Altidor, benefiting significantly from this advancement.

Justice, who turns four this week, wears a custom-made trachea splint constructed from bioabsorbable material that will dissolve as her airway becomes stronger. The splint was designed and produced specifically for her case, offering a tailored solution to her condition.

Children’s pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Kevin Maher, and pediatric otolaryngologist, Dr. Steven Goudy, reviewed Justice’s case and deemed her eligible for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) expanded access program. Following FDA approval and her parents' consent, the surgical team implanted the device in October 2020, enabling Justice to breathe freely for the first time.

Tracheal splints like Justice’s are designed on an individual basis to treat pediatric tracheomalacia, a life-threatening condition caused by a weak and collapsing airway. Dr. Maher explained the severity of the condition:

Basically, the windpipe in infants can sometimes be floppy and so it can collapse and cause respiratory distress, respiratory failure. So, a lot of these kids get stuck on the ventilator for months to even years.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is among the few institutions in the United States using 3D printing technology to assist ventilator-dependent patients. Georgia Tech stands out as the only facility capable of custom printing these innovative tracheal splints. Currently, four patients, including Justice, have received these airway support devices from the collaborative team.

This treatment represents a significant milestone in pediatric care, particularly for children with tracheomalacia. The splints, made of bioabsorbable material, provide the necessary support for the trachea, allowing it to develop properly. Over time, the material is absorbed by the body, leaving a strengthened airway.

Nearly 1 in 2,100 children are born with tracheomalacia. Traditional treatments are often uncertain, with many children enduring labored breathing and prolonged periods on ventilators. The success of the Georgia Tech splints offers new hope for these young patients and their families.

The results from the four children who received the custom tracheal splints have been overwhelmingly positive, marking a potential new era in the treatment of this rare condition. This success follows other advances in 3D printing for tracheal recovery, such as the first bio-3D-printed windpipe transplant reported earlier this year.

The future looks promising for patients with tracheomalacia, as pioneering treatments like the Georgia Tech tracheal splints continue to transform the landscape of pediatric care.