Scientists introduce 3D printed heart

3D printing has vast potential for use in medicine. A group of Swiss scientists has recently succeeded in printing a silicon copy of a human heart using a 3D printer. Because this material may be rejected by the body, the experiment was repeated by their Israeli colleagues, using natural tissues.

Once artificial organs prove their safety for humans, organ donations will become a thing of the past, and millions of people who need help will finally get it. Now it seems like we won’t have to wait too long for this to happen.

Researchers from the University of Tel-Aviv have created a small copy of a human heart using a 3D printer. They used exclusively human tissues, meaning the organ should not be rejected by the body, which is often the case with artificial organs.

The ink is made up of ‘personalized hydrogel’ obtained from human fatty tissues. The printed heart has all the necessary blood vessels and is capable of beating. Today, scientists are continuing their research to ensure that a similar organ can save someone’s life someday.