Heena Sharma Blog

Shoemaking is an art! When it comes to performance shoes, technology also plays its fair part. In recent times, we have seen tiny foam beads being used in the midsole, but Adidas has gone beyond that to woo the niche community of runners with its Alphaedge 4D shoes . What's the USP? Adidas AlphaEdge 4D running shoes The highlight of the shoe is the midsole. It's not just the lattice-structure design that catches your eye but also the technology behind it. The midsole, made using the new 3D-printing technology, provides multi-directional support to your feet. Adidas collaborated with Silicon Valley-based Carbon on the 3D-printing technology to print midsole with light and oxygen using ‘Carbon Digital Light Synthesis’. The technology uses digital light projection, oxygen-permeable optics and programmable liquid resins to print polymeric products, and data to customise the sole according to your needs. However, this is not the first instance of 3D printing being ...

Scientists have developed a 3D printing technique that can recreate the complex geometry of blood vessels, and could one day be used to produce artificial arteries and organ tissues. A study, published in the journal Nature Communications, outlines a layer-by-layer printing method that features fine-grain, programmable control over rigidity. The findings could lead to better, more personalised treatments for those suffering from hypertension and other vascular diseases. "The idea was to add independent mechanical properties to 3D structures that can mimic the body's natural tissue," said Xiaobo Yin, an associate professor at University of Colorado (CU) Boulder in the US. "This technology allows us to create microstructures that can be customised for disease models," said Yin. Hardened blood vessels are associated with cardiovascular disease, but engineering a solution for viable artery and tissue replacement has historically proven challen...