New 3D printed cast prevents odour buildup

The latest in 3D printing is a new cast that looks like an attractive alternative to the bulky plaster and fiberglass casts.

The new design comes from Jake Evill, a recent graduate of the School of Design at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.

Dubbed "Cortex," the cast looks like a mash-up of a spider web, a piece of honeycomb and a fishnet stocking.

Leon Benson, a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, as well as a practicing surgeon himself, said that the network of holes is one of the new cast's greatest benefits.

He told ABC News that it will at least allow patients to scratch themselves.

The new cast will also let air circulate and prevent the buildup of odour caused by traditional casts.

The network of holes also gives it another benefit - less weight.

Although there is less material, Benson said he believes the cast will hold the patient's arms firmly in place.