Probably the most incredible piece of technology I've ever seen in my life. Could only imagine where this technology could bring us in a decade or two.....

more...

3D printers have been around for a while now, and yah, they are way cool!

Wow if the medical field could incorporate DNA they could just print you out a new organ

Simple organs are being manufactured this way too. See:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2011/05/02/technology-q...
I heard about it on the CBC podcast of quirks and quarks.
Looks like we can all enjoy butter without the guilt, growing a new heart is just down the corner...

Hmmm, new organs....think of the possibility!

Hasn't 3D printing technology been used for a long time to make hard plastic, one piece models of prototype cars that were sculpted from clay? If so, I believe this was around in the late 90s. But I could be wrong. Also, about the organs... I do know they have made enormous leaps in the biotechnology field lately. I saw a special on National Geographic that explained how scientists are able to take an old organ, dissolve all of it except the cellulose skeleton, inject it with tissue DNA, and incubate it until it grows back into a new, fully functional organ. Truly incredible..

They incubate them with the stem cells derived from the original organ to grow the new organ. They are starting to make the organ structure on their own then add the stem cells. In the not too distant future they will be able to grow you a new heart in a few weeks if you need one.

http://richarddawkins.net/articles/642095-surgeons-carry-out...

The 3d printers they are making keep getting better, you can build your own at home for about $1000, but I would rather buy a kite, lol. I can think of a few things I would like to do with one of these though.



Wish I could remember how to post a video....

I don't think it was stem cells they were using.. I think it was cells that are already specialized, but they are incubated inside the organ skeleton and adhere to the surfaces where they multiply and grow until they form a synergistic structure. I could be wrong about the stem cells, though.

Laser metal deposition with Titanium. Basically a titanium printer from a CAD model.

acartier maybe YOU can build one for about a $1,000
Some of us still have trouble using a regular printer

LOLOL You crack me up ^^^^

I might be able to if I had the grand to blow but there are kites boards and buggies much more deserving of that funding at the moment, lol. Get a Canon MX870, best printer I have had yet and you can get easily refillable cartridges for it :-D