$1,000 3D Printer Now Makes Realistic Body Parts for Surgeons

Medical schools spend thousands securing cadavers for students to practice on, but a new 3D printing breakthrough could change surgery training forever.

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed CRAFT, a printing method that uses $1,000 printers to create incredibly realistic models of body parts. The technique can produce a complete human hand with bones that feel like bones, tendons that flex like tendons, and skin that mimics real tissue.

"We can control molecular level order in three-dimensional space, and in doing so, completely change the mechanical and optical properties of a material," said Zak Page, a UT chemistry professor who led the research. The method transforms a simple liquid resin called cyclooctene into solid objects by projecting grayscale light patterns onto a moving platform.

What makes CRAFT special is its simplicity. Previous methods required expensive inkjet printers and multiple materials that didn't stick together well, often breaking apart at the seams where different materials met. CRAFT uses a single affordable material and creates objects that hold together just like real human tissue.

The technology works by building objects from microscopically thin 2D layers, controlling whether each tiny section becomes hard or soft just by adjusting light intensity. It's compatible with cheap DLP or LCD 3D printers that anyone can buy for under $1,000.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond medical training, CRAFT opens doors for better protective gear. Page envisions creating helmets and armor with alternating hard and soft regions, similar to how tree bark and bones naturally absorb impacts without breaking. This bioinspired approach could make safer equipment for everything from construction work to sports.

The method could also reduce waste. While not fully recyclable, objects printed with CRAFT can be melted down or dissolved and reformed into new shapes, giving them multiple lives instead of ending up in landfills.

The research, published in the journal Science, was led by Alex Commisso and Samuel Leguizamon from Sandia National Laboratories. Their work proves that cutting-edge medical technology doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Medical schools struggling with cadaver shortages and costs now have a practical alternative that could train the next generation of surgeons more effectively and affordably than ever before.