Tucker Marr’s life took a drastic turn in October when he fell down a steep flight of metal stairs, causing a coma. To relieve the pressure on his brain and remove a blood clot, surgeons had to remove a portion of his skull. Instead of leaving his skull incomplete or reattaching the old bone, which is expensive and prone to infection, Marr received a prosthetic piece of skull made with a 3-D printer. This unique prosthesis is covered by his skin and contains an acrylic window that allows doctors to see inside his brain with ultrasound. This technique is being offered to patients with conditions like brain injuries, tumors, brain bleeds, and hydrocephalus. Advocates claim that it allows doctors to examine the brain without the need for costly and time-consuming CT scans or MRIs. However, some researchers are still skeptical and prefer more rigorous clinical trials before implementing it as a standard practice. Despite the divided opinions, Marr’s doctor, Dr. Netanel Ben-Shalom, believes that the window provides a clear view of the brain’s structures and can be a valuable tool for post-surgery surveillance. Other researchers, like Dr. Charles Liu, are even exploring the use of ultrasound for brain activity studies as a simpler and cheaper alternative to MRI scanners. He has recently used ultrasound on a patient who required skull restoration due to a traumatic brain injury, and hopes this method could provide unprecedented insights into brain functions. In addition to medical advancements, Dr. Liu also sought to improve the patient’s post-surgery living conditions by assisting him in finding housing.
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