3D Printer Store » bioprinting http://www.3dprinterstore.com Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:11:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 3-D Bio Printer Swaps Ink for Cells http://www.3dprinterstore.com/2010/03/3-d-bio-printer-swaps-ink-for-cells.html http://www.3dprinterstore.com/2010/03/3-d-bio-printer-swaps-ink-for-cells.html#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:16:59 +0000 3D Printer Store http://www.3dprinterstore.com/?p=189 Print-on-demand technology — utilized by companies like Vistaprint and CafePress — has become widely implemented over the last decade as digital printing has steadily replaced costly letterpress plates and other complicated methods. At the same time, 3-D printers (like our favorite, the MakerBot) have become more commonplace in the manufacture of products and prototypes. And, [...]]]> Print-on-demand technology — utilized by companies like Vistaprint and CafePress — has become widely implemented over the last decade as digital printing has steadily replaced costly letterpress plates and other complicated methods. At the same time, 3-D printers (like our favorite, the MakerBot) have become more commonplace in the manufacture of products and prototypes. And, now, biotech outfit Invetech has merged the two technologies, replacing printer ink with living cells. That’s right: a 3-D, on-demand human tissue printer.

Developed for bioprinting company Organovo, the printer contains software that allows bioengineers to build model “scaffolds” on which to place, say, liver cells for a patient in need of a transplant — all before the structure is constructed by laser-calibrated print heads. The printer then builds the tissue layer by layer, much like a traditional 3-D printer.

This will undoubtedly change the game for biotech in years to come. The technology proposes a future in which patients do not need to wait for transplants from other human hosts; instead, medical technicians will simply have tissue models ready to be customized and printed on-demand. And, of course, this will be tons of fun if it ever hits the consumer market (not likely), as we’ve already started fantasizing about printing out real teeth and eyeballs for next year’s Halloween ghoul-fest.

Via: switched.com

]]> http://www.3dprinterstore.com/2010/03/3-d-bio-printer-swaps-ink-for-cells.html/feed 0 3D Organ Bioprinting http://www.3dprinterstore.com/2009/12/3d-organ-bioprinting.html http://www.3dprinterstore.com/2009/12/3d-organ-bioprinting.html#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:21:55 +0000 3D Printer Store http://www.3dprinterstore.com/?p=63 3D Bioprinting new blood vessels or even organs may be possible in the future. A first step has been taken with the first commercial bioprinter, by Organovo. It currently prints cell structures but nobody has dared to put them in their bodies yet. So while this looks like a promising development, I’d take good care [...]]]> 3D Bioprinting new blood vessels or even organs may be possible in the future. A first step has been taken with the first commercial bioprinter, by Organovo. It currently prints cell structures but nobody has dared to put them in their bodies yet. So while this looks like a promising development, I’d take good care of your body just a little longer – say, 30 years or so?

Organ Printing

Source: www.shapeways.com

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