Richards Dave (Dave Richards)

Biography

2025: Installation of a prosthetic half face to a cyclist after an accident

A prosthetic half face created with 3D printing was successfully fitted to a patient in. Great Britain The operation was carried out at a new medical centre in Devon. This was announced in mid-June 2025 by representatives of the institution, specifying that cyclist Dave Richards was one of the first to receive a personalized implant.

According to the BBC, the man received severe facial injuries as a result of a collision with a drunk driver in July 2021. Richards lost his left eye and suffered severe burns to one side of his face and body.

The accident happened in Somerset while Richards was cycling with friends. A drunk driver ran over cyclists from behind while talking on the phone at the wheel.

According to the publication, the man underwent multiple operations at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and prolonged rehabilitation. Injuries included fractured ribs on the right side and compression damage.

The Bristol 3D Medical Centre became the first institution in the UK to combine 3D scanning and printing under one roof. The centre opened in April 2025 at the former French Hospital in Bristol.

The center's specialists made a large orbital prosthesis and tires for Richards to treat scarring in the neck. The prostheses were created using a PEEK printer manufactured by Mini Factory.

The PEEK printer is a large 3D printing system with a heated chamber capable of reaching a temperature of 250 ° C. High temperatures provide print quality critical to medical purposes.

The process of creating the prosthesis involved 3D scanning the patient's face to digitally capture features. The technology allows you to create exact copies and design shapes for the corresponding prostheses.^[1]

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