3-D Printing Promotes Nerve Regrowth

I'm sure if we had any geniuses at all in stroke they could easily visualize and create uses for this in stroke. That would be a BHAG(Big Hairy Audacious Goal) that would attract foundation funding to sponsor such research.
http://www.rdmag.com/videos/2015/09/3-d-printing-promotes-nerve-regrowth?et_cid=4828930&et_rid=648870051&type=headline
Visually, it seems like a simple process. An extruder drizzles clear liquid in a Y formation. Red and green dots are added before the apparatus is complete with more layers of clear liquid. Unlike its deceptive simplicity, the object is meant to guide a complex process.
Researchers from Univ. of Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Univ. of Maryland, Princeton Univ. and Johns Hopkins Univ. have developed a 3-D printed guide that aids the regrowth of complex nerves following injury.
“This represents an important proof of concept of the 3-D printing of custom nerve guides for the regeneration of complex nerves,” said Prof. Michael McAlpine, of the Univ. of Minnesota.
The nervous system can be affected by a variety of injuries, from trauma to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, the system’s complex components—the brain and spinal cord—make it difficult for spontaneous regeneration, repair and healing.
“Some cells of the central nervous system are so specialized that they cannot divide and create new cells,” according to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
However, some believe 3-D printing may be an avenue to promote nerve regrowth. The researchers, who published their study in Advanced Functional Materials, successfully reverse engineered the structure of a rat’s sciatic nerve using a 3-D scanner.
Next, the silicone guide was printed, with colorful dots acting as chemical cues to promote motor and sensory nerve regeneration. After surgically grafting the guide to cut nerve ends, the researchers found the rat’s ability to walk was improved in about 10 to 12 weeks.
The scanning and printing process lasts about an hour. However, nerve regrowth is a process requiring several weeks.
“Someday we hope that we could have a 3-D scanner and printer right at the hospital to create custom nerve guides right on site to restore nerve function,” McAlpine said.
According to researchers, the technology may help over 200,000 people annually who suffer from nerve injuries or disease.
“The exciting next step would be to implant these guides in humans rather than rats,” said McAlpine.
Once available, the process wouldn’t require scanning for all patients. Eventually, a library of scanned nerves may be utilized to find the patient’s best match, according to McAlpine.

Video at link.