Anybody else catch this story? I saw it the other day and meant to post but just got around to it~
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/02/19/bioprinting.wounded.soldiers/ (http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/02/19/bioprinting.wounded.soldiers/)
Some highlights~
"Researchers are developing a specialized skin "printing" system that could be used in the future to treat soldiers wounded on the battlefield."
"We started out by taking a typical desktop inkjet cartridge. Instead of ink we use cells, which are placed in the cartridge," said Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the institute.""
"The project is in pre-clinical phases and may take another five years of development before it is ready to be used on human burn victims, he said."
"....university researchers say organs -- not just skin -- could be printed using similar techniques."
"Researchers developed the skin "bio-printer" by modifying a standard store-bought printer. One modification is the addition of a three-dimensional "elevator" that builds on damaged tissue with fresh layers of healthy skin."
"The skin-printing process involves several steps. First, a small piece of skin is taken from the patient. The sample is about half the size of a postage stamp, and it is taken from the patient by using a chemical solution.
Those cells are then separated and replicated on their own in a specialized environment that catalyzes this cell development.
"We expand the cells in large quantities. Once we make those new cells, the next step is to put the cells in the printer, on a cartridge, and print on the patient," Atala said.
The printer is then placed over the wound at a distance so that it doesn't touch the burn victim. "It's like a flat-bed scanner that moves back and forth and put cells on you," said Atala.
Once the new cells have been applied, they mature and form new skin."
"Researchers said it is difficult to speculate when the skin printer may be brought to the battlefield, because of the stringent regulatory steps for a project of this nature. "
Amazing!! Of course, I'll really get excited when they start printing hair back on my head.
Quote from: Scatter on February 23, 2011, 04:45:55 PM
Amazing!! Of course, I'll really get excited when they start printing hair back on my head.
Done! ...well, sorta...
(http://www.aolcdn.com/photogalleryassets/home/554800/homer.jpg)
Quote from: monsterphile on February 23, 2011, 07:29:29 PM
Done! ...well, sorta...
(http://www.aolcdn.com/photogalleryassets/home/554800/homer.jpg)
HA!!
That is totally fascinating!