3D Bioprinting: Printing Parts for Bodies

In January 2012, a little boy's life was saved by a 3D printer.

Kaiba Gionfriddo was born with a rare defect. When he was just six weeks old, his left bonchial tube collapsed. He stopped breathing. His parents rushed him to the hospital, where he was resuscitated. But over the next weeks, the attacks continued to recur. Kaiba’s parents were told that, without help, he could die.

Kaiba’s doctors then took an extraordinary step. They contacted tissue engineering researchers at the University of...