Medical applications for 3D printing technology, mostly prosthetics has been in the news a lot over the last few weeks. But now Qingdao Unique Technology, a Chinese company, has developed a 3D printed custom-made wheelchair. An entire wheelchair that can be adjusted to a patients specific overall needs could be made from a 3D printer. The creation of the customized prosthetics to be suitable for a person's individual requirements is a wonderful technological advancement, but what if a wheelchair can be devised that can do this same thing?

Specializing in 3D printers, Qingdao Unique Technology has recently revealed the multifunctional Anyprint BOICS 3D printer. This particular printer is actually capable of printing almost anything. Using a variety of intricate filaments which includes several natural bio-materials, living cell material and high polymer filament it is able to revolutionize the wheelchair.

Qingdao Unique Technology has proven to be capable of some clever designs because of their construction and it is hoping to lead wheelchairs into an entirely new realm of customization. They can be made to meet the needs of each person and their needs.

Looking like an ordinary wheelchair, they are designed to help the patient through the rehabilitation phase of their healing process. Each printed wheelchair designed is based on the full body of the person who will be using the wheelchair.

This is actually their biggest selling point, unlike the regular one-fits-all wheelchairs of the past. Being made with a custom PVC material called Flex it is both abrasion resistant and lightweight with the proper back and arm support. In helping the wheelchair user get better use from the chair, it has a unique rear wheel that is designed to make climbing stairs far easier to accomplish.

Although this innovative wheelchair is not actually in production at this time, the concept is intriguing. Wheelchairs are expensive and not everyone can afford a customized wheelchair to fit their special needs. If this new concept can be made affordable it could give hope to many wheelchair users.

Photo courtesy Flickr Creative Commons