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Researchers Build 3D Printer That Makes Tissue-Like Material

Posted by samzenpus on from the printing-a-little-guts dept.

carmendrahl writes "3-D printers don't build only solid objects anymore. They also build liquid objects, thanks to a research team at the University of Oxford. The group custom crafted a 3-D printer to squirt tiny liquid droplets from its nozzles. The 3-D patterned droplets can mimic biological tissues, such as nerve fibers, and may have potential in tissue engineering applications. An expert not involved with the study is cautious about endorsing the tissue engineering applications because they're not yet demonstrated, but praises the team for extending 3-D printing to new classes of materials."

20 of 32 comments (clear)

  1. biological repair system by houbou · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That will be one of the things I can see this do, to litterally repair any parts, might even be used for plastic surgery as a way to rebuilding a new face

    1. Re:biological repair system by CrimsonKnight13 · · Score: 1

      An application for life-like automatons (robots) would be another. The gap of the uncanny valley would close significantly.

      --
      Libera te ex Inferis!
    2. Re:biological repair system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Actually, this will be able to produce tissues to wipe the tears from our eyes when we see the price of these 3D printers.

  2. Cue Jlist's NSFW link by Quakeulf · · Score: 1

    Life-like texture ;_;

  3. Imagine this! by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Imagine building building out a structure about 2 inches in diameter and about a foot or two in length. It is made up of buckyballs, made of rubber walls. Inside of the balls are filled with a magnetized fluid, some kind of polymer that reacts to magnetic field. When an electric field is applied all these polymers curl up tight and become small in volume. when it is removed they will allow themselves to be stretched out. That would be the artificial muscle, with ability to pull in and allow itself to be stretched out.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
    1. Re:Imagine this! by rts008 · · Score: 1

      Sounds like Electric Viagra!!

      Can't beat that with a stick!

      --
      Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  4. I know something new it can make me by alen · · Score: 2

    Just a few more inches is all I need

  5. Fifth Element by div_2n · · Score: 2

    I know I can't be the only one to think of this movie when I heard this.

    1. Re:Fifth Element by JeanCroix · · Score: 1

      "Computer, print one supreme being. And two kobe sirloins."

    2. Re:Fifth Element by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      Leeloo Dallas Multipass.

      --
      Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
  6. Concidence? by jonr · · Score: 1

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/04/05/kfc-kentucky-fried-chicken-boneless-fast-food-chicken/2011419/

  7. There's been a bit of this for about 5 years ... by dbIII · · Score: 2

    ... and some places are already working on nerve cells.
    The news here is probably a better method than previously but the journalist probably jumped to conclusions about first steps.

  8. Market disruption by turkeyfeathers · · Score: 3, Funny

    The folks at Kleenex must be worried. When people can print their own tissues at home, why would they buy a box of them in the store?

    1. Re:Market disruption by Megane · · Score: 1

      Maybe it makes toilet tissue. Now if you get surprised to find no more rolls on the shelf, you can just print one for an emergency wipe!

      --
      #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
    2. Re:Market disruption by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Maybe it makes toilet tissue. Now if you get surprised to find no more rolls on the shelf, you can just print one for an emergency wipe!

      Are you really going to buy, maintain and find room for a 3D printer in your bathroom for the one-in-a-million time you run out of arse-wiping material?

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    3. Re:Market disruption by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

      The folks at Kleenex must be worried. When people can print their own tissues at home, why would they buy a box of them in the store?

      Dream on!

      It took many, many decades to prefect a product that can survive the rigors of production, packaging, shipping, and stocking and only self-destruct in a cloud of lint when the end user pulls one out!

  9. For Geeks... by sociocapitalist · · Score: 1

    print-a-girlfriend.com

    --
    blindly antisocialist = antisocial
    1. Re:For Geeks... by Khashishi · · Score: 1

      Printing negative money is different though.

  10. "Sil" also an acceptable answer by Thud457 · · Score: 1

    So does humanity manage to destroy itself with "frog eggs" or "lord of the flies"?

    Carl Sagan was a damn dirty plagiarist. Also a hypocritical pothead who was molested by a dolphin.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  11. Re:Sex toys by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

    Finally!

    Computer, one Pink please!

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