Researchers aim to 'print' human skin

(CNN) -- Researchers are developing a specialized skin "printing" system that could be used in the future to treat soldiers wounded on the battlefield.

Scientists at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine were inspired by standard inkjet printers found in many home offices.

"We started out by taking a typical desktop inkjet cartridge. Instead of ink we use cells, which are placed in the cartridge," said Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the institute.

The device could be used to rebuild damaged or burned skin.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/02/19/bioprinting.wounded.soldiers/index.html

This is quite nifty, if we had more of this kind of news I wouldn't be so worried about the relentless march of technology.


These are the kinds of advances that remind me of sci-fi movies.

Chiral wrote:This is quite nifty, if we had more of this kind of news I wouldn't be so worried about the relentless march of technology.


These are the kinds of advances that remind me of sci-fi movies.

From this it may be a small step to faxing ourselves around the world.

Not as elegant as a Star Trek transporter, but if it gets the job done...