When British engineer Tal Golesworthy learned his aorta was in danger of rupturing due to complications of Marfan syndrome, he decided to take an active role in his personal health by designing and creating his own cardiac implant. Marfan syndrome is a disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue, including cardiac tissue.
Upon learning of his need for surgery, Golesworthy created a custom implant using magnetic resonance images of his aorta and computer-aided drafting software. Through rapid prototyping, he was able to create an exact model of his aorta and then create a textile implant to fit it.
Maria Konovalenko 