Skin Printer

Following up on the post about 3D printing, researchers are now developing the capability to print skin and organs.

From CNN...

"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 device could be used to rebuild damaged or burned skin.

The skin-printing process involves several steps. First, a small piece of skin is taken from the patient. Those cells are then separated and replicated on their own.

"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.

[Other] university researchers say organs -- not just skin -- could be printed using similar techniques.

Welcome to the future.