We are heading into an era of huge technological advances and achievements, especially in the field of medicine. Problems and conditions that may have literally been the death of you a hundred years ago may now be cured, simply by taking advantage of the latest medical technological breakthroughs. And 3D printing may have a huge part in that.
James has already introduced us to the concept of 3D printing (check out his other 3D printing articles here, here and here), but one area which he did not touch on was bioprinting. This is the concept of using 3D printing to make human tissue and organs. In other words, printing the human body and constructing what a person needs. With today’s technology, it would take 10 days to make a liver, but with the speed that technology improves, who knows? We could eventually end up creating one instantly at the flick of a button, like the holodeck in Star Trek.
Today’s infographic shows the printing process for creating human cells. It also gives you a timeline for the development of bioprinting, as well as showing the benefits for the pharmaceutical industry.
Let us know what you think of the infographic. Do you think it’s entirely feasible that one day we will have the ability to print human organs to order? Can you think of any downsides to the plan? And if you were needing a new organ, would you accept one made by a 3D printer? Let us know in the comments.
Click on the infographic to see a much larger version
Image Source: WanderingWhiteHorse
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wow, idk that :D (now i know)
Great Infographic! :)
Bioprinting? This is the first time I have had of it. Is this for real?
Oh yes, it’s very real. Here’s a very good Wired article on it – http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2010/07/gallery-bio-printing/
This is incredible! What a resourceful piece of “software”!
Just the idea of how many lives could some day be saved brings goosebumps. Having lost someone very dear to me because a new liver did not become available in time, this (albeit a long way from reality) brings hope that someday no one else will have to die waiting brings new hope. 12-15 people die everyday while waiting on a new organ.
Here is a video on TedTalks that also discusses this technology
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/anthony_atala_printing_a_human_kidney.html
And yet, call me a pessimist, but the idea is kind of scary when you think of the flipside. If this, transhumanism / “uploading” and human cloning ever make a perfect Lovecraftian mesh, sure you might be able to “print” your dead uncle Arnie just to hear him tell old WWII stories, but guess what, Godwin’s law might also be in full effect: Uncle Arnie’s arch enemy might fly out of that printer too. Or should I say, Godwin’s amendment to Murphy’s law: if anything can go wrong, it’ll have something to do with Hitler. :-(
brilliant..no words to explain..
sounds a bit creepy to me. but it’s a promising idea, though.
mind blowing! when this turns to reality, we would have truly modify evolution in humans