3D Printing – Lifeboat News: The Blog

Using 3D printer to develop treatment for spinal cord injury

Posted by Paul Battista in 3D printing, biotech/medical

Jan 30
2019

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) affect approximately 300,000 Americans, with about 18,000 new cases occurring per year. One of these patients, Jake Javier, who we have written about many times over the past several years, received ten million stem cells as part of a CIRM-funded clinical trial and a video about his first year at Cal Poly depicts how these injuries can impact someone’s life.

Currently, there is nothing that completely reverses SCI damage and most treatment is aimed at rehabilitation and empowering patients to lead as normal a life as possible under the circumstances. Improved treatment options are necessary both to improve patients’ overall quality of life, and to reduce associated healthcare costs.

Scientists at UC San Diego’s School of Medicine and Institute of Engineering in Medicine have made critical progress in providing SCI patients with hope towards a more comprehensive and longer lasting treatment option.

AI recreates paintings using 3D printing

Posted by Genevieve Klien in 3D printing, media & arts, robotics/AI

Jan 28
2019

The texture of an artist’s original work can now be reproduced with AI-controlled 3D printing.

Studio Roosegaarde wants to turn space waste into shooting stars and 3D-printed housing

Posted by Genevieve Klien in 3D printing, habitats, space

Jan 25
2019

Have you ever thought about all of the pollution in space? Check out this innovative idea to turn space waste into eco-friendly fireworks and 3D-printed homes.

New 3D nanoprinting strategy opens door to revolution in medicine, robotics

Posted by Paul Battista in 3D printing, biotech/medical, robotics/AI

Jan 23
2019

Engineers at the University of Maryland (UMD) have created the first 3D-printed fluid circuit element so tiny that 10 could rest on the width of a human hair. The diode ensures fluids move in only a single direction—a critical feature for products like implantable devices that release therapies directly into the body.

Aether and UCL Researchers Democratizing 3D Printed Nanotech at 2% of Competitor Cost

Posted by Klaus Baldauf in 3D printing, nanotechnology

Jan 23
2019

Aether collaborating with University College London and Loughborough University to develop 3D printing nanotechnology at a revolutionary low cost.

Erin Abbott [email protected]

Mechanical engineers develop process to 3D print piezoelectric materials

Posted by Paul Battista in 3D printing, mobile phones

Jan 22
2019

The piezoelectric materials that inhabit everything from our cell phones to musical greeting cards may be getting an upgrade thanks to work discussed in the journal Nature Materials released online Jan 21.

Experimenting with Cancer Treatments Outside the Human Body

Posted by Jeffrey L. Lee in 3D printing, biotech/medical

Jan 19
2019

New research from MIT has resulted in a microfluidic device, the tumor analysis platform (TAP), that can simulate different cancer treatments on biopsied tumor tissue. The TAP device can be 3D printed within one hour and is slightly larger than a quarter. Three cylindrical shafts rise from the surface of the device and serve as ports to input and drain fluids, as well as remove air bubbles. Fluid—including various media, fluorescent markers, or lymphocytes—gets injected into an inlet port adjacent to the trap. The fluid enters through the inlet port and flows past the trap.

A new 3D-printed device from MIT researchers allows for the testing of different cancer treatments on live tumor tissue outside the human body.

New ultra-fast 3D printing technology uses resin and light

Posted by Genevieve Klien in 3D printing

Jan 15
2019

Researchers with the University of Michigan have developed a new 3D printing technology that is capable of printing 100 times faster than normal 3D printers. Unlike traditional 3D printers, which work by applying plastic down as layers, the new technology involves resin that is solidified upward at rapid speeds. The new method is capable of producing complex objects at speeds that traditional printers can’t compete with.

Paralyzed rats walk again after scientists 3D-print a new spinal cord: Implant successfully fueled nerve growth — and could be a game changer for humans

Posted by Paul Gonçalves in 3D printing, biotech/medical, neuroscience

Jan 15
2019

For the first time, scientists have used rapid 3D printing technologies to create a spinal cord. The team at UC San Diego then put neural cells in it and implanted it into rats, who walked again.

Researchers Discover a Way to Make 3D Printing 100 Times Faster

Posted by Genevieve Klien in 3D printing

Jan 14
2019

Researchers at the University of Michigan have invented a new method of 3D printing which is up to 100 times faster than conventional existing 3D-printing processes. Here’s how it works, and why it could prove a game-changer for the way that 3D printing is currently used.