Organ printing utilizes techniques similar to conventional 3D printing where a computer model is fed into a printer that lays down successive layers of plastics or wax until a 3D object is produced.[1] In the case of organ printing, the material being used by the printer is a biocompatible plastic.[1] The biocompatible plastic forms a scaffold that acts as the skeleton for the organ that is being printed.[1] As the plastic is being laid down, it is also seeded with human cells from the patient's organ that is being printed for.[1] After printing, the organ is transferred to an incubation chamber to give the cells time to grow.[1] After a sufficient amount of time, the organ is implanted into the patient.[1]
To many researchers the ultimate goal of organ printing is to create organs that can be fully integrated into the human body.[1] Successful organ printing has the potential to impact several industries, notably artificial organs organ transplants,[2] pharmaceutical research,[3] and the training of physicians and surgeons.[4]
- ^ a b c d e f g Shaer, Matthew (May 2015). "Soon, Your Doctor Could Print a Human Organ on Demand". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- ^ Salzman, Sony (September 23, 2019). "3D-printed hears with 'beating' tissue could ease donor shortage". NBC News. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ Ventola, C. Lee (October 2014). "Medical Applications for 3D Printing: Current and Projected Uses". Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 39 (10): 704–711. ISSN 1052-1372. PMC 4189697. PMID 25336867.
- ^ Weintraub, Karen (2015-01-26). "Off the 3-D Printer, Practice Parts for the Surgeon". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-02.