Important Innovations

  3D Printed Microneedle Patch Alternative to Needles                                                                 Source:  UNC-Chapel Hill New Tech That's a Breakthru for Vaccines Researchers at Stanford University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill have developed a 3D printed plastic patch as an alternative to COVID-19 vaccinations by needles.  The patch contains an array of microneedles that directly deliver the vaccine into the skin.  The researchers say the microneedle patch is ten times more effective in producing an immune response than a needle and it is painless. Microneedle patches have been under development for decades.  But the breakthrough on this revolutionary new patch came from 3D printing the microneedles on a polymer patch just long enough to reach the skin and deliver the vaccine. Customization Through 3D Printing The key to the new patch is 3D printing which enables customization of the microneedles for various vaccine patches. The researchers

Northwestern's HARP: Full Size Structures in Two Hours Source:  Northwestern University Future of Manufacturing On-Demand A team at Northwestern University have invented a 3D printer that provides rapid, on-demand manufacturing of large objects in a few hours.  It can be used to make parts for planes, cars, medical devices and more.  The HARP (high area rapid printing) device prints 100 times faster than other 3D printers.  It can create an object the size of a human in 2 hours. Record Breaking Throughput Northwestern University says this type of rapid manufacturing on-demand is the future of manufacturing that could put an end to molds and warehouses. The new printer will be commercially available within a year and a half.  It prints both hard, durable parts and elastic objects.  The throughput is record breaking and enables it to manufacture parts on demand. Non-sticky Liquid & Ultraviolet Light The printer itself is large:  13 feet tall with a 2.5 sq. foot prin

Triple 3D Printing Record: Largest Object, Largest Boat, Largest Printer Source:  University of Maine University of Maine's Patrol Boat Dirigo This news story is an indication of the future of boat and other manufacturing.  A team at the University of Maine just used the world's largest 3D printer (their own) to print the world's largest 3D printed boat, which also happens to be the world's largest 3D printed object.  It's a triple winner of the Guinness Book of World Records for the University of Maine. Impressive Numbers It took the team and the UM's 3D printer just 72 hours to 3D print the 25 foot, 5000 pound patrol boat.  It's named Dirigo, which is Maine's moto in Latin for "I Lead".  They used plastic polymer pellets and printed it in one piece.  The cost is about $40,000 and it is seaworthy. Big Future Applications Dirigo was designed by UM's Advanced Structures and Composite Center as a demonstration of wha

3D Printed Adult Human Hearts Source:  Carnegie Mellon University's Add caption Big Bioprinting Step Forward to Make that Happen Engineers and scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh have just invented a new bioprinting technique using hydrogel that brings the world steps closer to printing fully functional human hearts.  For a great news blog on this, go to Important Innovations Collection: 3D Printing Human Hearts : Breakthrough  Bioprinting Method Source:  Carnegie Mellon University Big Step Toward Printing Functioning, Adult Human Heart A break...

Extraordinary SpaceX Cargo Mission Source:  Techshot 3D Printer to Develop Human Tissue to Benefit Humanity This is a very innovative piece of technology, a 3D bioprinter to manufacture human tissue on the ISS in space.  It's being launched this July by a SpaceX cargo mission rocket.  For a  lot more details on this extraordinary tech innovation being deployed in space, Important Innovations Collection: SpaceX Extraordinary Cargo Mission : 3D Printing Human Tissue in Space, Onboard the ISS Source:  Techshot BFF July Launch of  Your BFF in Space This is extraordinary tec...

From Square to Round and Back UC Boulder Shapeshifting Material University of Colorado Boulder scientists just developed a new shape shifting material that enables a square peg to morph and fit into a round hole.  All before it reverts back to its original shape. Broad Uses The material can change into complex, pre-programmed shapes when exposed to light or heat.  It may have a broad range of uses in robotics, 3D printing, medical devices, artificial muscles and biomaterials. It uses liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) which is the same tech in modern TV displays. Material Science Breakthrough The new material can go back and forth between 2 separate shapes repeatedly.  It achieves readily programmable 2-way transformations and was just reported by UC Boulder. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the results were just published in the journal Science Advances.  The researchers in UC Boulder's Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering are going

Breakthrough in Tissue Regeneration thru 3D Printin g Researchers at the Imperial College London have developed a way to 3D print soft biological structures. They match the structure and softness of body tissues.  As a result researchers say these structures could be used to build life-like models of the brain and lungs for medical procedures.  Specifically to form scaffolds that act as a template for tissue regeneration - allowing damaged tissue to regrow. Scaffolds to Rebuild and Heal The Imperial College medical scaffolds are super soft.  The scientists don't believe they have the issues that normally face tissue replacement transplant procedures like rejection by the body.  This innovation has many significant applications for tissue or organ transplants. Future of Medicine This research is pointing the way to the future of medicine.  3D printing of soft biological structures may lead to the seeding of neuronal cells involved in the brain and spinal cord to restore t

All the Colors of the Rainbow 3D Printed Scientists at the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Spain have just developed a faster and cost-effective colored, 3D printing method.  The scientists say their new system is cost-effective even for large scale production. New Tech Approach They've incorporated materials such as carbon nanotubes that allow for the use of cheaper, lower power lasers.  They've added new photosensitizers to produce bright colors.  The new system can print objects in all the colors of the rainbow. Growing Popularity of 3D Printing People are using 3D printing for a wide variety of applications including manufacturing, medical devices, fashion and even food.  Up until now, there's been a big drawback on the most efficient systems.  They've printed only in grey or black.  The new color system just announced by the Spanish scientists opens a whole new world of color.

Tech & Medical Breakthrough - Hand-Held 3D Skin Printer University of Toronto scientists have developed a portable 3D skin printer that prints layers of tissue to cover and heal deep wounds in minutes. The potential of this technology is life-saving.  Deep wound patients may have heavy damage to all three layers of skin:  epidermis, dermis and hypodermis.  That can lead to hemorrhaging.  This is the 1st 3D skin printer that deposits even layers of all three layers of tissue and improves the skin healing process. Current Practice Currently, treatment for deep wound injuries involves skin grafting with healthy donor skin.  This can require large amounts of healthy donor skin, which is not always available.  As a result, sometimes a portion of the grafted area is left uncovered. 3D Bioprinters At this time, most 3D bioprinters are bulky, expensive and work at low speeds.  Current 3D printers are incompatible with clinical application, perhaps until now. Technology and Medi

Very Hi-Tech Drone Boat Fleet for Many Global Uses A MIT team has developed a fleet of driverless boats. They can ferry goods, people and monitor traffic and the environment.. This could help free-up road congestion in waterway enriched areas like Venice, Amsterdam, Miami and Bangkok.  The autonomous boats operate with precise control and high maneuverability. Autonomous Waterways Scientists envision a future where driverless boats can perform city services overnight, further reducing congestion.  For instance, deliveries and waste management could be performed at night, which would reduce daytime traffic. But, there's a lot more than that. 3D Printed Boats that Can Self-Assemble Into Bridges &  Concert Stages The boats are roughly 4 by 2 meters.  They are extremely high-tech.  They contain location trackers, sensors, microcontrollers and other hardware.  They can be programmed to self-assemble into platforms for food markets, floating bridges, connect stages and for