3D printing helps Polish researchers create fully functional artificial heart

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20160422-3d-printing-helps-polish-cybernetics-researchers-create-fully-functional-artificial-heart.html

3D printing helps Polish cybernetics researchers create fully functional artificial heart

Many areas of medical research have benefitted from 3D printing, but research concerning the human heart remains a particularly important and enduring project. 3D printed heart models help to save lives on a daily basis, and research is taking place across the globe that could someday produce a functional, 3D printed artificial heart which could be implanted in a human body.

A group of Polish researchers is working somewhere in between those two goals, working with 3D printer manufacturer and compatriot Zortrax to build a number of 3D printed hearts which could contribute to the safety and efficacy of future artificial hearts, 3D printed or otherwise.

This is phenomenal news imho. 👆

Some questions that come to mind:

- How will 3d printed artificial hearts revolutionize medice?

- What next? Can we, in a foreseeable future, "print" a human being?

- Are terminators going to be 3d printed too? 😉

So 3d printing can create things with working parts?

Originally posted by Sin I AM
So 3d printing can create things with working parts?

That'd pretty damn cool. I wonder how it's done. I haven't researched it at all. I recently read an article about a guy who got hand transplants and they don't work. Sad stuff

They haven't yet created a fully functioning artificial heart.

There are 3d printed firearms interestingly enough. Can't imagine too many limits as to what can be done so long as it isn't overly intricate in terms of the moving parts themselves, though no doubt the level of detail and precision the printers are capable of will continue to increase.

Originally posted by ArtificialGlory
They haven't yet created a fully functioning artificial heart.

Also, this:

The researchers are using the 3D printed heart models to verify scientific hypotheses and to perform experimental research which could help increase the safety of future artificial hearts. By 3D printing the heart models, the research team has been able to save a significant amount of money and perform a broader range of research than would have been possible with commercially available models.

Regardless, 3d printing technology is really breaking the barriers. I am anxious to see what comes next.

Originally posted by Ascendancy
There are 3d printed firearms interestingly enough. Can't imagine too many limits as to what can be done so long as it isn't overly intricate in terms of the moving parts themselves, though no doubt the level of detail and precision the printers are capable of will continue to increase.

There's been some very cool stuff in this regard. 3d printed vehicles and housing are the most interesting ones I'd come across lately until this.

Originally posted by Stigma
Not sure, the headline clearly says they did.