Posted on 12/31/2013 11:59:16 AM PST by Red in Blue PA
2014 could be a landmark year for an amazing medical technology: human organs built by 3D printers.
San Diego biotech firm Organovo promises that its "bioprinting" technology will successfully print a human liver by the end of 2014, the company told Computerworld's Lucas Mearian.
Mearian reports:
Like other forms of 3D printing, bio-printing lays down layer after layer of material -- in this case, live cells -- to form a solid physical entity -- in this case, human tissue. The major stumbling block in creating tissue continues to be manufacturing the vascular system needed to provide it with life-sustaining oxygen and nutrients. ... Organovo, however, said it has overcome that vascular issue to a degree.
The liver won't be suitable to be used as transplants in human beings. But it will be effective for scientific research and drug testing, Mike Renard, Organovo's executive vice president of commercial operations told Mearian.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
SSYS and DDD are two of the big players.
I’ll drink to that!
Good, I just may need one.
The ability to have a replacement organ printed, and not have to take pills to avoid rejection, is nothing sort of civilization changing.
Now if they could print some fava beans and a nice chianti.
Get back to me when they can print more FReepers...
So, are these livers to be made from clones of ones own cells?
I’ll take one!
3-D printed humans coming! Need a date? Get out the printer.
With the criminal restructuring of the entire health care/insurance industry, the only ones who will be able to afford replacement parts will be the George Soros’s of the world. Then let’s see how we all like virtual immortality. Imagine a 900 year old Hitler.
I wonder is this company is making a promise it won’t be able to keep.
Exciting beyond belief! The question, of course, is whether the new organs will be received only by government officials (who have their prescriptions brought to their desks!) or whether we’ll overthrow government health care and actually permit this for average human beings, that is, American citizens who are not privileged to be either government employees or welfare recipients.
Yes, the world needs more cats.................
The printer is free, but the ink cartridges are outrageous..................
...and XONE
I love 3D printers and have followed/invested for about 18 mos now...I’m a little concerned that ONVO named a date now...rut roh!
It has shot up about $5 in past few weeks...ain’t touching it.
Me too and while they're at it, I could use a heart and lungs as well.
The Kennedy premier model can also print a waitress ,an Oldsmobile and scotch to go with it.
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