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Organovo Has Its First Commercial 3D Bio-Printer

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the company-with-a-lot-of-heart(s) dept.

kkleiner writes "Organovo and strategic partner Invetech hope in 2010 to release a commercial version of their 3D organ printer capable of producing very basic tissues like blood vessels. While it is still limited to simple tissue structures (full organs are a long ways off), Organovo plans to deliver the printers to various research institutions interested in organ and tissue production. Working with these institutions, Organovo hopes to one day progress to creating a system that can print organs as easily as other 3D printers print plastic figurines."

12 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. I bet by idontgno · · Score: 5, Funny

    the ink will almost be as expensive as HP's.

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    1. Re:I bet by unformed · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah, they're going to charge an arm and a leg for this.

  2. The obvious market driver is... by couchslug · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...porn. :)

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    "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    1. Re:The obvious market driver is... by idontgno · · Score: 3, Insightful

      the first thing I thought about when I read "3D organ printer" was -- well, you know.

      Was it "I bet there'll be a run on legal-size* printer paper..."

      *For those in countries other than that United States, please read that as "ISO B-4".

      Thanks.

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      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
  3. Fifth Element by ichthus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This, obviously, will remind several of us SciFi fans of the reconstruction scene in the Fifth Element -- which I am too lazy to track down and link right now, so I'll let some other person whore for the karma instead.

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    1. Re:Fifth Element by el3mentary · · Score: 4, Informative

      You mean this scene I assume.

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  4. Waiter! by 2names · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'd like four bottles of your finest whiskey and one new liver please.

    --
    "I'm just here to regulate funkiness."
  5. Re:Hmm... by Locke2005 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Trust me, as long as they can snag a millionaire by bleaching their hair, bobbing their nose, and "enhancing" their breasts, women will continue to do so (and yes, the sister of one of my girlfriends did exactly that). If there was no demand, there would be no supply.

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  6. Heart valves by tsa · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I hope it can print heart valves. I am not an expert, but those look simple and printed heart valves can help a lot of people.

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  7. Re:5th Element - Fact not fiction? by Zerth · · Score: 3, Informative

    There was the assumption the extra strands of the genome stored the layout & weights of the brain's connections to encode her native language and motor skills instead of just the bootstrap that humans have.

    She was still ignorant of current facts and English, until she speed-read the encyclopedia.

  8. If you thought paper jams were bad... by Curate · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now you'll have to clean out organ jams.

  9. Re:You don't want to know... by palegray.net · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sorry, I couldn't hear you... this blender is way too noisy. You mind popping that refill cap off and reloading the Epson? I'll go tell Mrs. Wilson a hawk just flew off with her cat.

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