Health

Material From 3-D Printer Could Help You Grow Damaged Bones

The capabilities of 3-D printers are just starting to take off, making almost anything you can imagine or draw on a computer, including things like Steven Colbert’s head. But funny business aside, these printers also emerging as useful tool in medical settings as well due to their ability to make very specific, customized items.

The latest out of Washington State University is a bone — hot off the presses. Although not exactly like a bone, given the fact that it will dissolve eventually and that’s by design, the bone-like material is what researchers hope will act as “scaffolding” that when paired with actual bone will help facilitate growth.

Watch Susmita Bose, a professor in WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, explain the research and see the printer begin to work:

The researchers see the bone-like material being used in orthopedic procedures, dental work and to deliver medicine for treating osteoporosis, according to the press release. Paired with actual bone, it acts as a scaffold for new bone to grow on and ultimately dissolves with no apparent ill effects. Thus far, they have had success with the bone scaffolding on rats and rabbits.

The ProMetal 3D printer used by the researchers, which is designed to make metal objects, works by having an inkjet spray a plastic binder over a bed of powder in layers of 20 microns, about half the width of a human hair, the press release reports. Following a computer’s directions, it creates a channeled cylinder the size of a pencil eraser. The research found that the addition of silicon and zinc more than doubled the strength of the main material, calcium phosphate.

3-D printer makes bone-like material

This 3-D printer makes bone-like material. (Photo: Washington State University)

They have found that within a week in a medium with immature human bone cells, the scaffold was supporting a network of new bone cells.

Comments (19)

  • EqualJustice
    Posted on December 1, 2011 at 9:58am

    OK, BLAZE.. not such breaking news.. I sent you a video MONTHS ago about the new three D printers? Ahhh Why don’t you LOOK at your “scoops?” This technology is amazing.

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 4:39pm

      From what I heard, probably around the same time, they were printing sets of the person’s teeth to use as dentures. I wonder if they can print a bone AFTER it was already damaged, though.
      I’d love a new ankle.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • FoxholeAtheist
    Posted on December 1, 2011 at 9:20am

    If these are “god given” talents, where were these people 2000 years ago?

    Report Post » FoxholeAtheist  
    • Duddio
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 1:24pm

      Ummm…. coming up with innovations that were groundbreaking for their times… in art, philosophy, construction…. are you seriously that dense?

      Report Post »  
  • louise
    Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:02am

    All I can say is …..WOW

    Report Post » louise  
  • hillbillyinny
    Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:23am

    Keep inventing! Use that gift of a brain God gave us and lets move this country forward again. Realize that “plumber” who KNOWS how to wisely use “inventions” is worth his salt. Honor the monies spent in formal education to produce highly trained people (so they can pay their education bills), and stop sending “dolts” to college who should be our electricians, plumbers, ditch diggers, road crews, etc.! Pay them well, BUT, not excessively because of UNION DEMANDS–most of which goes to the union!

    This is a marvelous, God-provided, wonder. Thank you Lord! And thank you to those dedicated enough to question, research, learn and try!

    Report Post »  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:45am

      Who decides who is a dolt.You?Some idiot reading a paper or background report?What if the paper was falsefyed due to crimes so that the perp could collect money they weren’t ever entitled to?Fiduary fraud and ID theft have been used for this purpose before.What happens when you find out that alledged “Dolt” has a IQ well above 130.Has the equivalent of between 16 and 20 years of schooling?Would you apologize?
      You think that an electrician or plumber is stupid?I suggest you educate yourself.The4y have to apprentice for at least two years and pass a very rigorous test.They aren’t the idiots you seem to think.
      You are in fact a disgrace to all blue collar workers and crime victims everywhere.,

      Report Post »  
  • Darla_K
    Posted on December 1, 2011 at 6:34am

    Amazing. I always like to read and hear about new medical technology. That is why I can’t understand how our great Country with all the medical technology we have throw ourselves into a burning fire with this Obama healthcare bill.

    Report Post » Darla_K  
    • hillbillyinny
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:19am

      Our problem is not on the CREATIVE side, it is on the WORK SIDE! Our problem is the WORTH of someone’s work–should a brain surgeon get paid more than a ditch digger? I think so, but others then couldn’t compete with “the (Dr) Jones’,” and therefore their unions have demanded a level of pay and benefits for the ditch digger so that he/she can be on the same par or similar to the brain surgeon! Our problem is GREED!

      My parents bought a very small row two bedroom house one mile from Philly, raised my brother and I, housed a batchlor uncle the entire time and were together as a couple through most of my life (dad died when I was twelve). I didn’t have my own room!!! (Scandelous today!) In fact I didn’t even have my own bed!!! Slept in my crib until I was four (didn’t even realize that was unusual in those days, maybe it wasn’t! After that went to sleep in my parents bed and when they were ready to go to sleep, my father carried or later “walked” me downstairs to the living room where a lovely single Castro Convertable chair, fully made up with linens and blanket was waiting for me. Not only did I SURVIVE this “abuse,” I thrived in it, AND other than appreciating my own room, small apt., whatever, I am not only sane but very balanced, frugal, and HAPPY!

      I buy only what I need, use my moneies wisely, give to others in NEED, and buy the best I can and keep it for years and years, even finding someone who can repair it rather than replace it.

      Live fruga

      Report Post »  
    • jujubeebee
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:33am

      I liked reading HILLBILLYINNY’s post. I totally agree. My family of 7 people lived in an 863 square foot house, didn’t have a car in the earlier years, and were satisfied. The greed is not always about wall street, is it? There will always be a top and a bottom~regardless of efforts to make us all the same! Those who want to succeed will. They will compete. You cannot boost someone’s self esteem by making everyone feel the same either. Self esteem (the real kind) has to be earned with achievements and good deeds. Arrogance is not confidence.

      Report Post »  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:50am

      @hillbillyinny
      No most blue collar workers don’t think they should be paid what the brain surgeon is paid.You are arrogant to think so.They simply are tired of paying a months worth or more of pay for maybe a half hours worth of work from a doctor.

      Report Post »  
  • CoolHandGordon
    Posted on December 1, 2011 at 12:39am

    CoolHandGordon, Speak Your Mind
    Your comment may take a few minutes to appear on the site.
    OR A FEW DAYS.

    Report Post »  
    • Cosmos102
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 1:30am

      I just watched a Jeff Dunham show about how he got his start as a Ventriloquist. He used a 3-D printer to make the head of his latest puppet, Achmed the Terrorist’s son. Impressive, no? You better say yes or “I Keel you!”.

      Report Post » Cosmos102  
    • KickinBack
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 3:59am

      I saw that as well Cosmos, it was a very interesting show.

      On a side note, maybe the OWSers could learn from the likes of Dunham, just some hard work and perseverance.

      Report Post » KickinBack  
  • CoolHandGordon
    Posted on December 1, 2011 at 12:37am

    Paper jams can be used as nails or teeth.

    Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on December 1, 2011 at 12:09am

    “ it can make just about anything ” …………………did obama try to use this to make his “ shovel ready jobs” ???

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • The_Almighty_Creestof
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 12:13am

      Look up Organovo…they can “print” human arteries now and are working on being able to print whole organs. No more LISTS to get a new kidney or liver.

      I check them weekly to see if they are going to sell stock on the market. Amazing stuff.

      http://www.organovo.com/

      Report Post »  
    • thepatriotdave
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 12:41am

      This is a blessing if it really works. I have had to deal with very advanced Osteo my entire adult life. The problems it has created for me reads like a horror story and as you might imagine it has caused me pain 24/7. I do take some pain-killers but keep them to a minimum and just learn to live with it. I pray this can be used in my situation because I have tried everything in the last 20 years with nothing working. Time to bug my Doc!

      Report Post » thepatriotdave  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:52am

      It doesn’t do everything, it hasn’t made obama go away yet

      Report Post »  

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