Blood Vessels Via 3D Printers

The wonders of technology. I just love these 3D printers. I blogged recently about the advancements they are making in printing 3D cars, and thought that was pretty cool, but I just learned about what they are doing in bioengineering with tissue replacement. It is truly amazing. And, just imagine the possibilities yet to come!

Using a custom-built, 4-head 3D printer, researchers and scientists have been able to create tissue containing skin cells interwoven with blood-vessel like structures with functional blood capillaries. First, a skeleton of vessels is created and then human cells are grown around them. Once this is successful, the 3D printed material is dissolved. The vessels are then used to move nutrients through the printed tissues for further cell growth and differentiation. The plan is for this technology to eventually lead to true organ regeneration.

This medical marvel has many benefits and will save thousands and thousands of lives through reducing the need for as many organ donations and transplants for those suffering from ailments that are currently on long waiting lists, as well as those critically injured in accidents, not to mention the other incremental advancements that this technology will continue to develop and build upon and lead to.

For any questions or to learn more about your options on your printer and barcode scanning, call us as (800) 643-2664 and immediately talk to one of our friendly representatives; or chat us up on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn!

For further reading on this fascinating topic, here’s a few interesting links:
http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/01/researchers-now-able-to-3d-print-working-blood-vessels/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140210184719.htm
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/525161/artificial-organs-may-finally-get-a-blood-supply/
http://discovermagazine.com/2015/jan-feb/67-printed-blood-vessels