World’s first fully human 3D printed heart unveiled

A group of scientists at the Tel Aviv University of Israel succeeded in making the world’s first ever 3D printed heart with human tissue and blood vessels this Monday. This is a major step in the world of 3D printing medical technology, where scientists are trying to come up with new, functional models of human organs for easier and better transplant methodologies.

Tal Dvir from Tel Aviv University, who led the project said, “People have managed to 3D print the structure of a heart in the past, but not with cells or blood vessels.” He claims that this is the first time a complete human heart has been engineered which is a perfect replica of the natural human heart. They plan to transplant the heart in animal models next year.

The developed heart is the size of a cherry and was shown to the journalists shortly after the invention. The findings have already been published in the journal Advanced Science by the team of researchers involved.

3D printed organs have already taken over the transplant field in medical prosthetics. They are cheap, durable, have a longer life and have lesser immunological complications unlike the traditional organs, which trigger off unwanted immunological responses. With the increased production of 3D printed organs, the transplant costs have also been dropping down.

On a disappointing note, however, scientists also said it might be too soon to expect a fully functional heart that will be available for transplants. According to Dvir, it might take another 10 years to come up with a fully functional heart. This is, however, the first step towards the process, he emphasized. With the rapid expansion of the medical industry along with newer techniques, 3D printed organ transplant will perhaps take over the stronghold in the next few years.

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