Essay On Organ Printing

1166 Words3 Pages

Human organ printing is beginning to be described as the next major innovation and breakthrough in 3D printing technology. The development of human organs is referred to as Bio printing. Here’s how it works: Scientists gather human cells from biopsies or stem cells, and then allow them to multiply in a petri dish over a period time. The result yields a mixture, very similar to the ink that is used for a regular printer. The substance is then loaded into the 3D printers. The printer is programmed to arrange various cell types, as well as other materials, into a precise 3D shape. Doctors hope that, when inserted into the body, the 3D printed cells will integrate with the existing tissues.
Scientists from various teams have already shown that lab-built organs can successfully function in patients. For example, engineered airways, bladders, blood vessels and urine tubes have been successfully implanted. Commonly, these structures are a combination of cells and biomaterials made in the shape of an organ or tissue. For many years, medical researches have been working in an effort to develop blood vessels, urine tubes, skin tissue, and over living organs. However, developing whole, fully functioning organisms, including all cell structures, is very difficult. This is where 3D printers make their groundbreaking impact. Due to their great precision and process, they are able to reproduce vascular systems required to make organs functional. Scientists are already using these machines to print small individual strips of organ tissue. Developing whole human organs for surgical transplants has not completely been proven to be effective yet. With technology rapidly developing, the future looks promising.
One glimpse of promise occurred two y...

... middle of paper ...

... development of working organs. The miniature kidneys that they developed only lasted about 4 months. Clearly this would not be practical for a patient to have a transplant with an organ that would only last a few months. In the future, scientists will look to see how exactly they can increase the lifespan of 3D printed organs. In the long run, the benefit of 3D organ printing is that patients are able to successfully endure a transplant procedure that could potentially be life saving. As of now, there are no apparent long- term risks of 3D printed organs since the development is so new. However, the topic has caused much controversy in terms of moral, legal, and social issues. As research improves and development increases, 3D printing will continuously become more and more of a reality and increase in its relevance both in the medical world, and to our society as

Open Document