Here are four things to know:
1. Biolife 4D used a technique called bioprinting, which utilizes living cells to 3D printer biological structures.
2. To make the heart patch, Biolife 4D used a patient’s own white blood cells and reprogrammed them to create pluripotent stem cells and cardiac cells.
3. The cardiac patch took days to print, as opposed to the company’s original projected time frame of about six to eight months.
4. The company is now focusing on printing individual parts of the heart, such as valves and blood vessels, with the ultimate goal of printing a full heart. Bioprinting holds the potential to create full replacement organs for patients in need of transplants.
More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:
Surgeons turn dancer’s ankle into knee joint after cancer
How 1 organ donor transferred breast cancer to 4 recipients
Ebola patient rejects treatment, flees to city of 1M in Congo
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.