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