Browsing Category: 3-D Printing

Sensors 3D printed directly on lungs, heart could be used with surgical robots to diagnose, monitor disease

Michael McAlpine and University of Minnesota colleagues used 3D printing and motion capture technology to print electronic sensors directly on organs that are expanding and contracting, such as the heart and lungs. This could be used to diagnose and monitor the lungs of patients with COVID-19. This builds on the team’s technique which enabled the […]

3D-printed, remote-controlled lab on chip for quicker, more accurate monitoring

Imperial College’s Martyn  Boutelle has developed a 3D printed, remote-controlled Lab on a Chip for real-time monitoring with improved personal care. Previous ‘Lab on a Chip’ devices have required large external support systems. Sensor deterioration over time inhibited their clinical effectiveness. The device can monitor chemical fluctuations, giving quicker and more accurate results, and potentially […]

3D printed skin, with blood vessels

Pankaj Karande and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute colleagues have developed 3D printed living skin, with blood vessels. which could integrate with host cells in grafts. Until now, a significant barrier to integration has been the absence of a functioning vascular system. Karande previously made two types of living human cells into “bio-inks,” and print them into a skin-like […]

3D printed, vascularized heart, using patient’s cell, biological materials

Tel Aviv University professor Tal Dvir has printed a 3D vascularized engineered heart, including cells, blood vessels, ventricles and chambers,  using a patient’s own cell and biological materials. A biopsy of fatty tissue was taken from patients. Cellular and a-cellular materials were separated. While the cells were reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem cells, the extracellular […]

3D-printed, bluetooth-controlled ingestible capsule delivers drugs, senses environment

MIT’s Bob Langer and Giovanni Traverso have developed a 3D-printed, wirelessly-controlled, ingestible capsule that can  deliver drugs, sense environmental conditions, or both.  It can reside in the stomach for a month.  Data is sent to a user’s phone, and instructions from the phone are sent to the device.  The sensor could also communicate with other wearable […]

3D, real-scale blood brain barrier model used to study new therapeutics

Gianni Ciofani  of ITT Pisa has created a device that reproduces a 1:1 scale model of the blood-brain barrier.  The combination of 3D printed artificial and biological components will allow the study of new therapeutic strategies to overcome the blood-brain barrier and treat brain diseases, including tumors, Alzheimers, and multiple sclerosis. A laser that scans […]

3D-bioprinted human skin can replace animal testing, potentially be used in burns

José Luis Jorcano at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid has developed a 3D bioprinter capable of replicating the structure of skin. The human-like  skin that is produced  includes an epidermal layer that protects against the environment, and a collagen-producing dermis that provides elasticity and strength. The bioink material  contains human plasma, and  primary human fibroblasts […]