Will 3D printing provide us with real organs for transplant ?

[petrushka.googol]

3D priniting technology seems set to revolutionize the way we live and will impact fields as diverse as food and automobile ancillaries.

 

Will this technology ultimately provide us with real organs available for transplant ?

 

Please opine.

 

 

[becker]

No doubt!! In the future, when I become a Mechanical Engineer, I want to be expert in medical equipments (one of the areas I want), specially 3D Printers.

Also look at the Organovo website.

[Fuzzwood]

Real organs will depend on: being able to print undifferentiated (stem-) cells and/or the cells of the corresponding organ, having some sort of scaffolding as organs tend to be hollow in some places, a way to remove this scaffolding, and a way to make sure the cells stick together after the scaffold is removed.

[Endy0816]

yeah, I think organ printing will be the best way to go long term. Other options carry assorted risks and ethical issues which could be eliminated via organ printing.