So, the US Army Corps of Engineers has been around for more than 2 centuries, starting with the founding and operation of the famed West Point.
Continue reading Concrete Printing
The leading cause of death- still- is cardiovascular disease (CVD). And, when CVD is severe, the treatment of choice is a heart transplant. Not surprisingly, these are not always available- so the wait- assuming one gets on the list- can be 6 months, a year, or even longer. In the US that means that 1/6 of those on the list die before ever moving up to #1 on the list.
Continue reading 3D Bioprinting
Sometimes classmates- even ones from long ago- can come to the rescue.
That’s what Dr. Ramy Arnaout of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital (Boston) found, when he reached his pals at MIT. Thankfully, MIT has been deeply involved in what they call the Manus Project- promoting 3D and other rapid manufacturing techniques.
Continue reading A Swab in Time
Another stem cell development.
For this development , Drs. Tal Dvir and Assaf Shapria (along with PhD candidate Nadav Noor and Drs. Reuven Edri, Idan Gal, and Lior Wertheim; all from Tel Aviv University) removed omental tissue (the omentum is the sheet of fatty tissue that stretches over the abdomen, affording vital immune responses ) from a patient and converted them into pluripotent stem cells. And, then induce those cells to form cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. These two cell types are then incorporated into a hydrogel that can then be printed by the 3D printer. Initially, these structures were simply cardiac patches.
Continue reading Have a heart…
I bet you thought I forgot all about 3D printing applications. After all, it’s been about four years since I discussed a new application.
Continue reading Home, sweet home?
Now, here’s a great combination of technology. Biochemical engineering and additive manufacturing. What’s that you say? Too much technical jargon?
Additive manufacturing. That’s how it started.
Basically, we develop a printer (of sorts) that instead of using ink, using materials as the substrate. Plastic. Cells. Metal. And, while we claim it makes a 3 dimensional object, what it really does is repetitively produce a two dimensional “print” over and over and over again. In so doing, the printer builds up the intended structure to be the three dimensional object desired.
Continue reading Out of this world 3D?
Playing tennis and basketball as we age, trying to stay active and not succumb to becoming a couch potato has its benefits. And, it’s pains. No, not a pain in the …, but one in the knees.
Continue reading Under the knife or popping pills? Nope- neither!
I haven’t written about 3D printing in a while. It’s not because nothing is going on in that arena. After all, HP announced that it will be offering a consumer 3D printer this year. (It is 2015 by now.) It’s because I have been involved in a slew of other projects and have lost touch with the groups continuing to work in this field.
Continue reading 3D Bioprinting
So, we’ve got out toys – 3D printers. And, many companies are using them, as I’ve reported. But, now, the 3D printer has gone into orbit.
Continue reading 10,9,8,7,6,5,4…
