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Trditional plaster casts have remained unchanged for largely over a century
Um, first of all I haven't seen a plaster cast in 40 years, they've been fiberglass at least that long, which means they weigh 1/4 of a plaster cast.
Second, we've been using other braces instead, like plastics with Velcro wraps that can be removed to clean a wound or just the skin.
I don't trust when people are disingenuous about current state of things to promote their solution as so much better.
Or they do a partial fiberglass 60% of the circumference and wrap that so it can be removed. Its honestly great, there is little need to change it.
Maybe if it was a true 3d scan to print, that had it ready in 10 minutes, I could see that. But that would still be better as a mesh rather than whatever this is.
Sounds expensive
Anyone got data on the plastic content and recyclability of Kevlar?
Quick online search found an article about the environmental impact of kevlar
https://shunwaste.com/article/how-does-kevlar-affect-the-environment
Kevlar, a lightweight and incredibly strong synthetic fiber widely used in bulletproof vests, aerospace, and automotive industries, has significant environmental implications. Its production involves the use of harsh chemicals and energy-intensive processes, contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, Kevlar is non-biodegradable, leading to long-term waste management challenges when discarded. While it offers durability and reduces the need for frequent replacements in certain applications, its lifecycle—from raw material extraction to disposal—raises concerns about resource depletion and ecological impact. Understanding these effects is crucial for developing sustainable alternatives and mitigating its environmental footprint.
This stuff isn't getting recycled, we barely manage recycling PET bottles, a pretty pure material and ubiquitous material, and that's mostly down cycled to polyester fiber which isn't really recycled unless you count burning trash as recycling.
Maybe there is some opportunity for reuse as claimed in the article.
