Spanish Surgeon Performs First Synthetic Organ Transplant

Bob the Super Hamste writes "The BBC is reporting that surgeons in Sweden have transplanted a synthetic windpipe into a patient. The synthetic windpipe was grown from a scaffolding and coated with the patients own stem cells. The scaffolding was made using 3D images of the patient's own windpipe. The new windpipe was made by scientists in London."

Comments

Huge

[Telvin_3d]

As I write this, the only comments posted so far are the usual sarcastic quips. But this is huge. Beyond huge.

For the first time, an artificially produced cloned organ has been created and transplanted. Someone has received an organ that has zero chance of rejection and will heal to a completely natural state.

I give it less than a decade before more complex organs like hearts or kidneys are transplanted for the first time.

Re:Huge

[geekoid]

Actually it might.
They can build the structure ahead of time, and then when needed put your cells onto the stricture.

I suspect there will be a time when you can have your critical organ on 'standby'. At my age, I would love to hae a second heart ready to replace my older one. I read a paper where they where discussing the possible of creating a heart this way, and then having it put inside you along with your other heart to take over.

It was high level musing..but high level musing by people that know all the details.

Hmmm...

[Anonymous Coward]

Wouldn't that be an "implant"? I mean, they're not taking it from someone else, are they..?