How 3D Printing Could End The Deadly Shortage Of Donor Organs

The Huffington Post ^ | March 2, 2015 | Macrina Cooper-White

[2ndDivisionVet]

Three-dimensional printing has been used to make everything from pizza to prostheses, and now researchers are working on using the emerging technology to fabricate hearts, kidneys, and other vital human organs.

That would be very big news, as the number of people who desperately need an organ transplant far outstrips the number of donor organs available. On average, about 21 Americans die every day because a needed organ was unavailable.

What exactly is the promise of 3D printing organs and tissues, or "bioprinting?" How does the technology work, and when might it start saving lives?

For answers to these and other questions, HuffPost Science reached out to Dr. Anthony Atala (right), director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and a world-renowned expert in the field, to find out.

See below for a lightly edited version of the Q & A.[continued]

[Insigne123]

“...a heart...a brain...courage!”

[CtBigPat]

3D printed organs? We are officially living in THE FUTURE!

And we're still screwing up:

TIFU by giving my 3D printed kidney breast cancer

[lee martell]

Now that is a Major Oops!

[who_would_fardels_bear]

If they can make human organs, why not beef steaks?

The first few will be verrrrry expensive, but eventually they could get the price down so that we could invite our vegan friends over to a friendly BBQ.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Finding ‘meatless’ meat for a world of cities
http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/finding-lsquomeatlessrsquo-meat-for-a-world-of-cities/

3D printed meat on the way – and it will be disruptive, say American specialists

By Kitty So, 03-Feb-2015

3D printed meat production will become technically feasible and could create competition for traditional meat producers as consumers will ultimately be able to print their own meat products – although much research and development still remains, say American food academics.

http://www.globalmeatnews.com/Industry-Markets/3D-printed-meat-on-the-way-and-it-will-be-disruptive-say-American-specialists

[null and void]

3-D Printer Ping!

[null and void]

Did you say a brain???

[roadcat]

From the article:
But I think we can safely say that the timeframe required to routinely print and implant complex organs is decades, rather than years.

Decades, darn! If only I had a brain. As a senior, I can't wait decades to get a better brain. Just imagine doctors slicing the top of your skull and grafting on additional 3D printed brain material, then topping it off with a 3D printed cone skull. Instant conehead with high intelligence!

[BipolarBob]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/06/head-transplant-italian-neuroscientist_n_3533391.html

[Vendome]

Sohhhh, yer sayin we can print all the pussy we want?

[null and void]

There was a thread on that very thing, based on this story:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/12/lab-created-vaginas-successfully-implanted-in-four-women-function-normally.html

I guess The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice objected.

[Vendome]

Well, at least they have something they can cut off...

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

They could do head transplants way back in the 21st century?! Why wasn't I told about that before?

First thing after I want after I get my head transplanted onto a new body is some head. Someone find Monica's head and get it transplanted STAT.

(This probably makes more sense to Futurama fans.)