
Dr. Anthony Atala shows a kidney created layer by layer by the printer in the background. A modified desktop ink jet printer sprays cells instead of inks. The cells are cultured from the patient and the structural template for the kidney comes from MRI scans (so it will be the right size and shape).
The TED Video just went online.
Using similar technology, Atala constructed a bladder for a young boy, Jake, 10 years ago. At the end of the talk (photo below), Jake rejoined the good doctor on stage to thank him.

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