TREKS IN SCI-FI FORUM

Main Decks => Tech Topics => Topic started by: moyer777 on April 09, 2010, 09:51:10 AM

Title: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: moyer777 on April 09, 2010, 09:51:10 AM
Oh, this is way cool.

(http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/fleshinkject.jpg)
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-04/cell-fabricator-prinks-healing-flesh-burn-victims (http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-04/cell-fabricator-prinks-healing-flesh-burn-victims)

"Inkject" Cell Printer via Wake Forest Institute For Regenerative Medicine
As if fabricating a new heart from scratch wasn't impressive enough, the doctors at the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine have come up with another astounding breakthrough. This time, they've designed an inkjet printer-like device that sprays new skin cells onto damaged burn tissue like it was a cheap tan. This device provides a fast alternative to delicate skin grafts, and could eventually be used to close other kinds of wounds as well.

The device itself consists of a tank holding a mixture of harvested skin cells, stem cells, and nutrients, and a computer-controlled nozzle that places the cells exactly where they need to go. The spray works similar to a color printer, first spraying down a layer of fibroblast skin cells as a substrate, and then blasting on a layer of protective keratinocyte cells. Both sprays also contain a slurry of some undeveloped skin cells.

In initial tests on wounded lab mice, burns treated with the cell printer healed in two weeks, compared with the usual five weeks skin grafts take to heal. Additionally, the mice with the printed-on skin showed less scarring and more hair regeneration, as the sprayed-on stem cells better incorporated themselves into all the various cell types of the burned flesh.

Successful mouse tests have driven the Wake Forest scientists onward to tests with pigs, whose skin more closely resembles that of humans. After the tests with pigs conclude, the doctors can finally move on to human trials, and eventual FDA approval. Additionally, the Wake Forest team is working with the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine to utilize this technology on the battlefield, to print shut bullet wounds and blast damage.
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: billybob476 on April 09, 2010, 10:07:08 AM
Hm i could use that to heal up my finger, the cat took a chunk out of it last night!
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: moyer777 on April 09, 2010, 10:13:47 AM
What did you do to tick her off?

(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3913/108/5/1773233371/n1773233371_15164_7742411.jpg)
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: billybob476 on April 09, 2010, 10:15:08 AM
We were playing, she got excited! Need to trim her claws.
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: sheldor on April 09, 2010, 10:20:17 AM
Been there.  Hot summer day, wearing shorts.  Cat sitting on lap - something spooked her
Back claw - gash in thigh.  ouch!!
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: KingIsaacLinksr on April 09, 2010, 10:26:14 AM
Quote from: billybob476 on April 09, 2010, 10:15:08 AM
We were playing, she got excited! Need to trim her claws.

My cat does that to me a lot.  Fortunately, I've started learning how to avoid them...I figure in a few years I'll be able to avoid 85% of her claws X.X.....:P

King
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: Geekyfanboy on April 09, 2010, 10:30:38 AM
That is a pretty cool device..

but I have you all beat with cat stories.. was sleeping in my bed and my cat was on the window seal right above my bed when she fell and reached out and her claw grabbed the inside of my eye and she hung there as her nail was stuck between my eye and eyeball socket... nothing like waking up with a cat clawing at your eyeball.
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: moyer777 on April 09, 2010, 12:17:50 PM
OUCH!
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: billybob476 on April 09, 2010, 12:42:48 PM
Sometimes it makes you wonder why we keep these cats around :)
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: moyer777 on April 09, 2010, 12:44:31 PM
It's their furry goodness, and the fact that they purr.  I love it when they purr. ;)
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: iceman on April 09, 2010, 01:41:00 PM
ouch, but my cat would say finger lickin good
Title: Re: Flesh Healing Spray
Post by: KingIsaacLinksr on April 09, 2010, 05:23:43 PM
Quote from: Geekyfanboy on April 09, 2010, 10:30:38 AM
That is a pretty cool device..

but I have you all beat with cat stories.. was sleeping in my bed and my cat was on the window seal right above my bed when she fell and reached out and her claw grabbed the inside of my eye and she hung there as her nail was stuck between my eye and eyeball socket... nothing like waking up with a cat clawing at your eyeball.

AUGH, AUGH AUGH AUGH





AUGH


Sorry, just reading that hurt me.  :(. 

King