3D-printed bone replacements coming soon to an orthopedic surgeon near you, courtesy of WSU (video)

3D printers are slowly, but surely working their way into all kinds of useful, everyday applications — just like the creation of chocolates , flutes or even Mario Kart turtle shell racers . Now, Washington State University engineers are unveiling a distinct implementation of the tech that may aid within the regrowth of damaged or diseased bones. Utilizing a ceramic compound, the group’s optimized ProMetal 3D printer builds dissolvable scaffolds coated with a plastic binding agent that function a blueprint for tissue growth. The team’s already logged four long years fine tuning the method, having already achieved positive results testing on rats and rabbits, however it appears there’s still a long way to head — about 10 -12 years, in accordance with the project’s co-author Susmita Bose — before orthopedic and dental surgeons can begin offering “printed” bone replacements. With a synthetic windpipe already under medical science’s belt and now this, it’s looking like we’re only a few short decades far from that long well known full body replacement. Right, Mr. Lagerfeld ? Click past the break for a short lived have a look at this osteo-friendly machinery.

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This post is tagged: diseased bones, everyday applications, medical science, tissue growth, university engineers, washington state university