OCT relies on near-ultraviolet wavelengths to produce detailed three-dimensional images of soft tissue like brain matter. But few things scatter light like a thick, bony skull.

California skateboarder Jared Hager has become the first person to receive a transparent skull replacement, which allows doctors to better view the function of his brain.

The 22-year-old woman patient may not have such things immediately in mind, and is probably just thankful to have a normal cranium. Her disorder had caused overgrowth of her old skull from a ...

The precursor to this achievement was a similar patching done last year, where 75% of a patient's skull was replaced with a 3D-printed implant made of polyetherketoneketone (PEKK, a thermoplastic).