Woman Receives a Brand New Type of Ear Transplant 

A 20-year-old woman born with an abnormally small and misshapen ear has received an ear implant made of her own genetic material. The groundbreaking surgery is the first “bioprinted living tissue implant.” Currently, patients with similar birth defects must have a new ear constructed from cartilage from their ribs. If the implant is tolerated, 3DBio Therapeutic’s AuriNovo has the potential to change the treatment landscape. In the future, scientists hope to use 3D printing to create all kinds of organs that transplant patients desperately need.