Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have 3D printed a full-size human heart. This is reported by the scientific journal ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering.
To recreate a human organ, experts used a natural polymer – alginic acid. This substance is extracted from different types of algae. It can be used as a base for material similar to living soft tissue. It is noted that the researchers used existing technology to print the heart, but for the first time they recreated the heart at a 1: 1 scale, and to complete this task, it was necessary to design a new 3D printer.
The artificial model can be used in medical training – it can be trained on it before performing operations on living patients. The elasticity of the printed heart allows you not only to cut it, but also to sew it.
Earlier, the American company Czinger Vehicles demonstrated a 3D-printed car. The manufacturer said that the car called the 21C will be released in a limited edition of 80 copies.
