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Doctors Take Advantage of 3-D Technology 打印技术成医疗新救星

课文朗读

Doctors at the University of Michigan saved a baby boy by using a 3-D printer to create a custom implant. The infant, Kaiba Giofriddo, suffered from a rare lung disorder that made it difficult for him to breathe properly. His life was in constant danger, even with the help of a breathing machine. Kaiba’s doctor, Glenn Green, worked with his colleagues to come up with a novel solution and they succeeded.

密西根大学的医生利用3D打印技术创造出客制化的植入物，拯救了一名男婴的性命。男婴凯巴．吉昂佛瑞朵长期受一种罕见肺病所苦，而无法正常呼吸；即使有呼吸器的辅助，他的性命仍不断受到威胁。凯巴的医生葛林于是和他的合作团队想出一个前所未见的解决方案，并于最终获得成功。

Green’s team created a blueprint for a flexible lung implant. Their design became a physical reality with the aid of a 3-D printer. They used a material that was hard enough to keep the boy’s lungs open, but soft enough to allow movement.

葛林的团队先制作出一个易收缩的肺部植入物的蓝图，接着靠3D打印的辅助，他们的设计成了现实生活中货真价实的物品。他们使用的材料坚固到足以使男婴的肺部敞开，但同时也柔韧的能让植入物活动自如。

This kind of technique is one of the many new and creative uses of 3-D printers in healthcare. Looking ahead, researchers are working to develop this technology to the point where skin and internal organs, like livers or kidneys, can be printed. Some experts are optimistic that complete organ printing will be achieved in as little as ten years from now.

如今3D打印在医疗上还有许多其他新颖又创新的应用。展望未来，学者将致力于发展此技术，直到有朝一日皮肤以及如肝脏和肾脏等器官也能被印制出来。部分专家也乐观表示：完整的器官打印技术仅须在短短10年内便能达成。

－by Geoffrey Trager

Vocabulary

custom implant [ɪmˋplænt] 订做的植入物

infant [ˋɪnfənt] n. 婴儿

lung [lʌŋ] n. 肺，肺脏

colleague [kɑˋlig] n. 同事

blueprint [ˋbluˋprɪnt] n. 蓝图；设计图

flexible [ˋflɛksəb!] adj. 可弯曲的；有弹性的

physical [ˋfɪzɪk!] adj. 物质的

movement [ˋmuvmənt] n. 活动

healthcare [ˋhɛlθkɛr] n医疗保健

liver [ˋlɪvɚ] n. 肝脏

kidney [ˋkɪdnɪ] n. 肾脏

Reading Comprehension

1.   Which of the following is mostly likely TRUE?

(A)  Kaiba's implant will be used for adults who need new organs.

(B)  The doctors in the article made something to help Kaiba breathe.

(C)  Dr. Green did all of this work by himself.

(D)  Researchers almost gave up on 3-D printing before this success.

2.   What is said about the problem Kaiba had?

(A)  He was able to design a solution and then print it.

(B)  It was not dangerous when he used a breathing machine.

(C)  Not many children suffer from the same condition.

(D)  It kept his lungs closed and safe from disease.

3.   Which of the following is FALSE?

(A)  Doctors are not yet able to print new lungs.

(B)  Researchers are hoping to further develop 3-D printing technology.

(C)  Dr. Green designed an implant, and used a printer to create it.

(D)  Doctors have already printed actual livers and kidneys.

Answer