Scientists Use 3D Printer to Create First “Printed” Human Vein

In the way cool category, I found this article on slashdot.org today. A couple notable exerpts:

3D Printing technology has recently leapt into a new realm — we’ve seen printers that can create entire buildings out of stone, delicious meals out of simple ingredients, and now — perhaps weirdest and coolest of them all — a printer that can build body parts from cells! Scientists working on the Organovo NovoGen printer recently created the first “printed” human vein. This technology could replace other toxic and carbon-heavy medicinal practices like using artificial parts in the human body.

If you're not familiar with 3D printers, they build up three-dimensional objects by laying down two-dimensional layers of the object. I've seen them make plastic prototype parts. The idea here is a leap forward where they use "bio-ink" to build up the right result instead of borrowing a vein from another part of your body. Will replacement organs becoming in a few years?

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