China Learned to 3D Print Kidneys

18.09.2013 8:52

Two years ago professor Anthony Atala reported that the organs can now be printed using special-purpose 3D printing equipment. Since then the statement revealed to be true and already for a few times the world saw news saying that organs were actually printed (take ears, for example, which they even successfully modified). By all means, ears or noses are not that lot of bother and you can survive without hearing, but you won't manage it without kidneys. And there we go: a team of Chinese experts showed everyone that it is possible to recreate real kidneys.

Earlier Anthony Atala already demonstrated how the kidneys were printed, but back then there was one huge difference; they did not function properly. Now Chinese specialists got extremely close to a possibility to create real organs that work. Nobody says that it's not challenging though. The problem—that these kidneys have a four month long lifetime—is really big.

They say that Rome wasn't built in a day and... well, recreation of organs is not the easiest thing too. Perhaps as soon as the project is carried out, the Chinese—or anyone else—will be able to create kidneys and other organs that are as self-sustainable and robust as organs created by nature. Anyway, the foundation was laid and we are yet to see what happens next.

Below you can find out more about the kidney recreation process.

Source:  http://habrahabr.ru/post/193198/

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