We have completed maintenance on DiscoverMagazine.com and action may be required on your account. Learn More

Watch This: 3-D Printing an Implantable Ear

80beats
By Breanna Draxler
Feb 21, 2013 11:43 PMNov 20, 2019 5:24 AM

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

How do you make a human ear that looks and functions like a real one? Researchers at Cornell published the first successful process in PLoS ONE Wednesday. Step 1: Take a laser scan of a real human ear. Step 2: Use digitization to print an ear-shaped collagen mold using a 3-D printer.

A collagen ear, to be seeded with living cartilage cells and implanted under skin. Image courtesy of Lindsay France/Cornell University Photography Step 3: Inject mold with gel of living cells. Step 4: Let sit in culture for three months until cartilage grows to replace collagen.

Three months after implantation, acellular implants (A) had decreased in size, whereas cellular constructs (B) retained their original anatomic fidelity. Ear B (printed and then cultured with cells) is the definite winner. Image courtesy of Alyssa J. Reiffel et al./PLoS ONE Step 5: Attach ear. (This step has yet to be tried, but scientists have high hopes for success since the use of human cells minimizes the likelihood of rejection. Also cartilage, even in a real ear, doesn't need to be connected to a blood supply to survive.)

1 free article left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

1 free articleSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.