Scientists in Israel on Monday unveiled a 3D print of a heart with human tissue and vessels, calling it a first and a 'major medical breakthrough' that advances possibilities for transplants. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) Producing 'ink'In its statement announcing the research, Tel Aviv University called it a 'major medical breakthrough.'A biopsy of fatty tissue was taken from patients that was used in the development of the 'ink' for the 3D print.First, patient-specific cardiac patches were created followed by the entire heart, the statement said.Using the patient's own tissue is important to eliminate the risk of an implant provoking an immune response and being rejected, Dvir said.Challenges that remain include how to expand the cells to have enough tissue to recreate a human-sized heart, he said.Current 3D printers are also limited by the size of their resolution and another challenge will be figuring out how to print all small blood vessels.3D printing has opened up possibilities in numerous fields, provoking both promise and controversy.The technology has developed to include 3D prints of everything from homes to guns. AFP AFP/CC
