World's smallest'bioprinter' is the size of a pill The ingestible device could help patients heal from the inside. This magnet guided'ingestible bioprinter' is the size of a large pill. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. When someone hears the word " bioprinter," it likely conjures up images of bulky hardware buzzing loudly on a desk in a brightly lit laboratory. But researchers from the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) School of Engineering are now turning that image on its head with the creation of what they are calling the world's first, pill-sized "ingestible bioprinter."

Capsules embedded between layers of this fake tissue simulate human blood and pus. Small 3D-printed liquid capsules inserted between layers of tissue burst open, mimicking blood, when surgeons make an incision. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Budding surgeons may soon train on stretchy, lifelike 3D-printed skin that oozes out blood and pus when cut. A new printable material developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities more closely mimics the adaptive nature of human tissue.

Organoids 3D printing has quickly become one of the leading segments of the 3D printing industry in terms of innovation. Until recently, the market was primarily focused on North America, however many companies, laboratories, and universities around the world are exploring this field as well. Thanks to 3D printing techniques, cells and biomaterials can be combined and deposited layer by layer to create biomedical developments that have the same properties as living tissues. During this process, various bio-links can be used to create these tissue-like structures, which have applications in the fields of medical and tissue engineering. Of course, it is more than knowing that the goal of all these developments is to successfully bioprint a fully functional human organ.

Toya T Peterson speaks on medical devices from the Sci-Fi world that could one day become reality. The handheld medical device used in the popular Star Trek Enterprise might soon become a reality. With Qualcomm having began a contest to see if anyone can create a working tricorder (that weighs less than 5 pounds and fits in the palm!), the healthcare industry might be able to benefit from this great innovation. With the ability to diagnose different conditions (ranging from anemia, diabetes, pneumonia, sleep apnea, and chronic diseases amongst others) and monitor vital signs (like blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and respiratory rate) of patients, the tricorder can be used by patients in the comforts of their homes, without having to visit the doctor. While Ender's Game featured a surgical robot performing brain surgery, robotic medical assistants majorly enable safe patient lifting, reducing incidents of workplace injuries, and hence improved clinician staff retention and satisfaction as well as patient satisfaction.

P.S. Send any tips to data@diamandis.com, What it is: British programmer Joshua Browder is a modern-day Robin Hood after a chatbot he programmed to challenge parking tickets has helped thousands of users appeal some 3 million worth of citations. DoNotPay asks you several questions about your violation and, if you might have a case, auto-generates an appeal for you to file. Business Insider reports that the bot has appealed over 250,000 parking tickets in London and New York with a 64% success rate. Why it's important: This Browder-built bot proves that AI-enabled chatbots aren't just for convenience -- they can also be used for social good.