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Holy shiznit! Can you say “Fifth Element”?

3D printer uses living cells to produce a human kidney

An estimated 110,460 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant and each day 18 people die waiting for transplants, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. But early-stage research at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine offers the potential to significantly reduce this organ donor shortage.

Researchers at the institute have developed a technique and equipment for printing transplantable organs. The seven-hour process begins with collecting 3-D images of the organ that needs to be replaced. Next, a small tissue sample is taken from the patient and used to seed a specially-designed printer. The printer then replicates the tissue layer by layer to create a new organ.

TED Talk – 3D printer uses living cells to produce a human kidney

The future is now…