Printing skin
That old HP inkjet we used to use for
college essays may soon go on to loftier achievements—like saving the lives of burn victims. Researchers at Wake
Forest, Clemson Universities, and the Medical University of South Carolina have found that skin cells can safely pass
through the larger nozzles of older Canon and HP inkjet printers. After harvesting skin cells from healthy skin
biopsies (sounds pleasant), the cells are printed on a gauze scaffolding, which form into sheets of tissue over a few
weeks' time. The printed skin grafts are sturdier than conventional skin grafts (and more valuable than a senior
thesis). Researchers believe printed skin may be clinically tested in a few years.
[Via Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Modesty B Catt @ Dec 19th 2005 3:03AM
...this would make a great mail-order pain free (ish) way to get tattoos! I see the future.
Send of a small skin scrap sample, pick the design you want, wait a few weeks...
...open up the package when it arrives, gently rub on the "skin preperation solution" (i.e. acid and pain killer) and apply the tattoo skin patch.
chadvavra @ Dec 19th 2005 3:03AM
for HP to rip off with overpriced 'ink' cartriges.
brian w @ Dec 19th 2005 3:03AM
... a violation of the DMCA! Doh.