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There has been an incredible development in the medical field. A recently published paper in Science reveals that a team of doctors has developed a unique ink that can be used for 3D printing inside the human body. This achievement might enable us to directly 3D print biomedical tools within the body.
This impressive breakthrough could pave the way for numerous medical applications, including repairing fractured bones, halting organ leaks, among other possibilities. The invention of this new method is an extension of the earlier innovation of photosensitive ink that solidifies under the illumination.
But, the penetration of light into the human body is limited. This is why the doctors chose to harness ultrasound’s sound waves to activate the ink. This technique is known as “deep-penetrating acoustic volumetric printing” (DVAP), and it could allow physicians to 3D print biomedical devices directly at the required site.
“Ultrasound waves can penetrate more than 100 times deeper than light while still spatially confined, so we can reach tissues, bones and organs with high spatial precision that haven’t been reachable with light-based printing methods,” the researchers explained in a statement.
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Emerging medical technologies like this could present a plethora of new options for how physicians address specific problems. The ability to 3D print biomedical devices directly inside the human body could also lead to less invasive surgical alternatives, depending on the circumstances.
The bio ink relies on targeted application. Once it reaches its target, though, it is activated by ultrasound waves, allowing to to harden into the pattern and shape that the doctors have designed. There is no information on when 3D printing biomedical devices will be widely available.
Still, this kind of development is astounding and offers an exciting look at how the medical field is advancing. In the past, we’ve also seen scientists and engineers creating magnetically-controlled pill cams that can be driven through the body where they need to go.
Josh Hawkins has been writing for over a decade, covering science, gaming, and tech culture. He also is a top-rated product reviewer with experience in extensively researched product comparisons, headphones, and gaming devices.
Whenever he isn’t busy writing about tech or gadgets, he can usually be found enjoying a new world in a video game, or tinkering with something on his computer.
“Why did the 3D printer go to therapy? Because it had too many layers of unresolved issues!”
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