3D printer used to make concept cars is now used to make artificial bones.
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There are 260 million people in the world that need artificial teeth but the fortune is not on their side. Not because of money or lack of dentists, but because their facial bone is in such bad condition that two surgical procedures are required in order fix that. Lucky for them, with the advance of science that could change soon.
In research centre "caesar" in Bonn, Germany, there is a large printer that draws pixels and fine lines on a surface covered with white powder. When it's done, the new layer of powder is placed on top of this "drawing" and the process starts again. It takes 60 layers of that powder, calcium phosphate to be more precise, for the job to be done. The result is artificial bone tissue.
That artificial bone will be delivered to dentists, scientist hope, where it will be used for repairing a damaged facial bone. New tissue will be inserted into small bone cracks and it should become a part or natural bone thanks to small tunnel. After some time those tunnels will be filled with small blood vessels, capillaries, and new bone cells. So, the patient will have new, healthy facial bone.
Calcium phosphate is used because it is a part of bones. It is biomaterial, which means that there should not be any allergic reaction to it. The new technology used for 3D printing that creates a bone is called Rapid Prototyping. It was used in automotive industry for quick creation of a model based on computer drawing. Instead of printer there's a kind of 3D printer, instead of paper there's powder, and instead of color there is special liquid. When drop of that liquid touches powder it hardens. Drawing by drawing, layer by layers, and the new bone is created.
The important fact here is that thanks to this method unique, individual materials can be created. When you loose a tooth you also loose a part of the bone. So, it will not be necessary to use natural bone taken from other part of the body, but the cracks will be filled with artificial material. Thus, the two surgical procedures will not be necessary anymore.
Scientists from "caesar" already cooperate with dentists from Bonn and places nearby. Dentists send pictures generated by computer tomography and "caesar" makes an artificial bone that fits perfectly. Although there is more research and clinical trials to be done, to make sure that there are no side effects whatsoever, some of the dentists are delighted with new technology. Dentist predicts that starting with 2010, when it should enter into general use, it will render today's methods obsolete. ■
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In research centre "caesar" in Bonn, Germany, there is a large printer that draws pixels and fine lines on a surface covered with white powder. When it's done, the new layer of powder is placed on top of this "drawing" and the process starts again. It takes 60 layers of that powder, calcium phosphate to be more precise, for the job to be done. The result is artificial bone tissue. 
Calcium phosphate is used because it is a part of bones. It is biomaterial, which means that there should not be any allergic reaction to it. The new technology used for 3D printing that creates a bone is called Rapid Prototyping. It was used in automotive industry for quick creation of a model based on computer drawing. Instead of printer there's a kind of 3D printer, instead of paper there's powder, and instead of color there is special liquid. When drop of that liquid touches powder it hardens. Drawing by drawing, layer by layers, and the new bone is created. 
The important fact here is that thanks to this method unique, individual materials can be created. When you loose a tooth you also loose a part of the bone. So, it will not be necessary to use natural bone taken from other part of the body, but the cracks will be filled with artificial material. Thus, the two surgical procedures will not be necessary anymore.