Medical use of rapid prototyping expands in areas from fake bone to replacement organs

Published on August 22nd, 2006

I’ve always thought that the 3D printing and rapid prototyping industry is extremely cool.

Those with failing kidneys can probably look forward to plugging themselves in to dialysis machines up to three times. The equipment removes fluid waste from blood that would otherwise poison the individual.

While the equipment is a life saver, those who use it report being exhausted and depressed after sessions. The United Network for Organ Sharing reports that over 90,000 people are on the waiting list for kidney transplants, and at least two of them die each day.

Those on the list and their families might find hope in the efforts of a few researchers who think they will be able to print a functioning human kidney using a combination of rapid-prototyping technology and recent medical developments.

I keep telling people, I’m glad this stuff is getting so good so that it will be almost perfect by the time I need it (knock wood).

6 users responded in " Medical use of rapid prototyping expands in areas from fake bone to replacement organs "

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# 1 prophet said, on August 22nd, 2006 at 1:09 pm

I had a cousin who died from going in to potassium shock. He had both his kidneys removed when he was 17 and rejected two seperate transplants. Dialysis works for years, but it will not last forever. He was on dialysis for 16 years.

Just to scare everyone, they think he got the original kidney infection from an untreated strep throat infection that spread when he was 14. Ever since hearing this, I never, ever take having a sore throat lightly.

# 2 Suzie said, on August 22nd, 2006 at 1:21 pm

It will be interesting to see this develop–I wonder if they will have more or less of a problem with rejection of these type of transplants.
Modern medical science is truly amazing! I’m with ya on your last sentence, lol!

# 3 RTaylor said, on August 22nd, 2006 at 4:04 pm

Chance are if you hear medical hype, it will be somebody else that will benefit from it.

# 4 Jim Dermitt said, on August 22nd, 2006 at 7:04 pm

I was looking at some applications last weekend. I was thinking about rapid prototyping and storyboarding for a film. You could print a 3D storyboard for visualization. I’m not sure if anybody is doing this, with everything in a computer today. You can build a 3D skull and print it, so I guess it could be used for costumes and building strange creatures born in a printer.

# 5 papafoo said, on August 23rd, 2006 at 5:24 am

Looking at the chic, I read the article title as: Fake Orgasms

# 6 Zuke said, on August 23rd, 2006 at 9:22 am

You keep making me read seemingly boring entries by putting cute women in the lead photo! Tricky!

p.s. Please don’t stop.

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