ABC News - Turtle’s 3D-printed harness could help ‘bubble butt syndrome’
Charlotte, a green sea turtle at Mystic Aquarium, suffers from positive buoyancy syndrome, also known as bubble butt syndrome, due to a past boat accident. This condition causes his rear to float, which can lead to health issues by putting pressure on organs and affecting the gastrointestinal tract. To address this, a 3D-printed prosthetic harness was developed by 3D printing solutions company Adaa and New Balance Athletics. Previous attempts with straps and epoxy failed, but the custom harness allows for adjustable weights to help Charlotte swim normally. The harness has shown positive results, and the aquarium plans to share this solution with other facilities caring for injured turtles.
Key Points:
- Charlotte the turtle has positive buoyancy syndrome from a boat accident, causing his rear to float.
- A 3D-printed harness was created to help Charlotte swim properly by adjusting his buoyancy.
- Previous solutions like straps and epoxy were ineffective, highlighting the need for customization.
- The harness allows for weight adjustments to balance Charlotte's buoyancy over time.
- Mystic Aquarium plans to share this innovative solution with other facilities for similar cases.