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Scientists Aim To 'Print' Human Skin

Posted by Soulskill on from the epidermis-load-letter-what-does-that-mean dept.

suraj.sun sends this excerpt from CNN: "Scientists at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, inspired by standard inkjet printers found in many home offices, are developing a specialized skin 'printing' system that could be used in the future to treat soldiers wounded on the battlefield. 'We started out by taking a typical desktop inkjet cartridge. Instead of ink we use cells, which are placed in the cartridge,' said Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the institute. The device could be used to rebuild damaged or burned skin. ... Burn injuries account for 5% to 20% of combat-related injuries, according to the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine. The skin printing project is one of several projects at Wake Forest largely funded by that institute, which is a branch of the US Department of Defense. Wake Forest will receive approximately $50 million from the Defense Department over the next five years to fund projects, including the skin-creating system. Researchers developed the skin 'bio-printer' by modifying a standard store-bought printer. One modification is the addition of a three-dimensional 'elevator' that builds on damaged tissue with fresh layers of healthy skin."

3 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing new by Khyber · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We've got a better one already made. It's nothing more than a fancy airbrush and heals burn wounds MUCH faster than this device.

    http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/news/article.asp?qEmpID=328

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    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  2. Re:And next, the "enhancements"... by TooMuchToDo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Viagra was initially researched by Pfizer as a treatment for angina, and just happened to fix erectile dysfunction *really well*. That doesn't make Pfizer sleazy, just like plastic surgeons aren't sleazy for giving a chick bigger tits if she wants them. Don't lie to yourself, you're judged on your physical appearance (or, in this case, "proportions"). Who cares if guys buying bigger dicks fund the R&D for regenerative medicine? Money is money.

  3. Re:Wait a second... by davester666 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sorry, but it only prints white skin. The color ink cartridges are WAY too expensive.

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    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!